{"id":43461,"date":"2017-02-08T15:07:42","date_gmt":"2017-02-08T19:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=43461"},"modified":"2017-02-08T20:08:53","modified_gmt":"2017-02-09T00:08:53","slug":"stranger-is-typing-claims-both-top-prizes-at-student-film-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2017\/02\/stranger-is-typing-claims-both-top-prizes-at-student-film-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Stranger is Typing\u2019 claims top prizes at student film festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stranger is Typing<\/span><\/em> was a hit at Brock\u2019s box office.<\/span><\/p>\n

The film claimed both top prizes at BrockTV\u2019s recent RenderThis Student Film Festival \u2014 the first entry to do so in the event\u2019s seven-year history.<\/span><\/p>\n

Created by third-year Brock Film Studies student Alex Caucean, the film took home both the Audience Choice and Jury awards at the annual competition that features the work of both Brock and Niagara College filmmakers.<\/span><\/p>\n

A special screening event was held on Feb. 3 with 17 short films, each between two and 10 minutes in length, shown in Brock\u2019s Sean O\u2019Sullivan Theatre.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to claiming the night\u2019s big wins, Caucean was awarded $1,100 for his suspenseful film about a lonely young man who gets more than he bargained for when he logs into a video chat room in search of attractive girls.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brock Popular Culture master\u2019s student Cory Maddalena was named the festival\u2019s first runner-up with his film <\/span>Origami<\/span><\/em>, and third-year Brock Film Studies student Graham Smith claimed the second runner-up prize for his film, <\/span>Nest<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maddalena was also the winner of the festival\u2019s inaugural Brock University Experience category, which required students to submit videos of 30 to 90 seconds expressing what the University means to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a student at Brock for more than five years has introduced me to so many incredible places on campus,\u201d Maddalena said of the inspiration behind his short.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to tell the story of a student being introduced to these wonderful places; the serene escarpment that leads to beautiful hiking trails, the market, the library and, of course, the iconic tower.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Maddalena wanted viewers to feel as though they were being taken for a tour around the campus that so many students call home.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Experience category was sponsored by the University and is set to return in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the screenings, festival guests were treated to live music by Brock student Nicole Henderson and an art show featuring the work of Visual Arts students <\/span>Alysha Rocca, Zachary White and Jessica Angelevski.<\/span><\/p>\n

Work to organize next year\u2019s RenderThis festival will begin in May.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyone interested in getting involved with the event can e-mail <\/span>marketing@brocktv.ca<\/span><\/a> for more information.<\/span><\/p>\n

(Story by fourth-year Business Communications student Ja’miil Millar)<\/p>\n\n\t