Student Film Makers Receive FOCUS Awards

A student at New York University who studied under director Martin Scorsese took the top prize this week at the 13th annual Films of College and University Students (FOCUS) Awards. Mark Richardson won in the narrative category with his film “Stray Dogs.” A total of 25 student film makers were honored Tuesday with the awards, sponsored by Nissan Motor Corp.

The first-place winner in screenwriting was Columbia University student Joseph Savino for “Detroit Roll.” The top documentary award went to Dr. Lance Gentile of USC for his film “Stat,” which is based on his own experiences as an emergency room physician. “Stat” also won editing and sound awards.

The animation first-prize winner was Stacey Steers, a student at the University of Colorado at Boulder, for her film “Watunna.” Steers also won the Women in Film Foundation Award.

More than $100,000 in cash and automobiles was awarded. Other winners include:

Renee Valente Producer Award: Mark Lawrence and Peter Shushtari, “The Inspired Chicken Motel,” San Diego State University.

Sound Achievement Award: Steve Grossman, “Stat,” USC.

Film Editing Awards: Don Matos, “The Other Side,” UCLA (narrative film); Dr. Charles Davis and Vanick Moradian, “Stat,” USC (documentary film).

Cinematography Awards: Mark Walton, “Jack in the Box,” American Film Institute (narrative film); Rachel Othmer, “Shores of Mania,” Harvard.