Written by Elisha Frazer
Photos by Katherine Rountree
Chris Auer, chair of the film and television department, hosted the awards and announced the winners.
The 11th annual SCADemy Awards ceremony took place Thursday evening. Host Chris Auer, chair of the film and television department, congratulated the featured filmmakers of the night, as well as their cast and crews. The ceremony began with words from Auer, explaining the devotion, hard work and collaboration that it takes to be a part of the film department at SCAD.
Before the awards were given, second-year film student Tucker MacDonald showcased his “Toast to Youth” Coca-Cola commercial, testing out SCAD’s new projection system.
There were several awards given out that night. The Winrich Kolbe Memorial Award is an honor paying tribute to the late film professor Winrich Kolbe. It was given to film student Adam Nelson for, as Auer said, “his ambitious talent, collaboration and maturity.”
The Innovation Award, given out for the second time ever in SCADemy history, went to Jeanette Gregor to commemorate her contributions to the film department. A “Special Thank You” award went to longtime film and television professor John Drop, who will be retiring from SCAD after 30 years of teaching.
There were only a few films shown after the award ceremony. The show kicked off with “The Pinewood Man,” which took home Best Actor and Best Undergraduate Narrative Film. “The Pinewood Man” is about an awkward father who tries to win respect from his son and cheating wife by preparing the Pinewood Derby.
Graduate student Jane Barr’s “Black Elephant,” which won for Best Graduate Documentary, aimed to unveil the truth behind black politicians representing the Republican Party.
A large crowd of film students, faculty and family showed up for the 11th annual SCADemy Awards.
Jacob Kirby’s award-winning music video for “Saralinah” by Johnny Delaware was also shown.
“The Neighborhood,” which follows the home lives of three young adults, won four awards: Best Graduate Production Design, Best Graduate Cinematography, Best Graduate Director and Best Graduate Narrative Film.
While it didn’t take home any awards that night, Ben Lloyd’s version of Edgar Allan Poe’s “Gold Bug” played as well.
Hailey Vest, the star of “Red, White and Screwed,” a comedy of high school politics, was given the award for Best Actress.
The night concluded with “Southsouthwest,” the story of a bullied teen who befriends a homeless girl. It won Best Cinematography and Best Undergraduate Director.
See below for the list of all the winners for this year’s SCADemy Awards.
Audience Choice Award
“That Shattered Flower”
Winrich Kolbe Memorial Award
Adam Nelson
Innovation Award
Jeanette Gregor
Special Community Award
Addie Babcock accepted the award for Best Production Design for an Undergraduate Film on behalf of Austin Lackey and herself for the film “Matinee.”
Professor Andra Reeve-Rabb (performing arts)
Professor Andrew Meyer (dramatic writing)
Professor Michael Chaney (film and television)
“Special Thank You”
Professor John Drop (retiring film and television professor)
Best Costume Design
Katherine Taylor for “Sea Odyssey”
Best Production Design
Undergraduate: Addie Babcock and Austin Lackey for “Matinee”
Graduate: Ruby Rodriguez for “The Neighborhood”
Best Cinematography:
Undergraduate: Ben Joyner for “Southsouthwest”
Graduate: Dwayne Green for “The Neighborhood”
Best Visual Effects:
Erin Boyle and Noah Sterling for “Verloren”
Best Sound Design:
Lourdes Cols for “The Peripheral”
Best Original Score:
Elizabeth Lim for “Matinee”
Best Editing:
Undergraduate: Anna Swenson for “The Peripheral”
Graduate: Aurelia Morales for “That Shattered Flower”
Best Documentary:
Undergraduate: Caroline Nead for “Nutria: The Other White Meat”
Graduate: Jane Barr for “Black Elephant”
Best Short Screenplay:
Franz Gatzke for “The Cop and the Anthem”
Jacob Kirby won Best Music Video or Non-Narrative Film for “Saralinah,” which was featured after the awards.
Best Feature Screenplay:
Undergraduate: Adam Nelson for “The Sycamore Players”
Graduate: Calhoun Cornwell for “Taking a Stand”
Best TV Pilot:
Undergraduate: Akil Kelly for “Doggonit”
Graduate: Calhoun Cornwell for “The War in 559”
Best Music Video or Non-Narrative:
Jacob Kirby for “Saralinah”
Best Experimental Film:
Jennifer Hancock for “Verloren”
Best Actress:
Hailey Vest for “Red, White and Screwed”
Best Actor:
James Madio for “The Pinewood Man”
Outstanding Artistic Achievement
Ben Joyner
Best Director
Undergraduate: Madison Hamburg for “Southsouthwest”
Graduate: Kyle Taubken for “The Neighborhood”
Best Narrative Film:
Undergraduate: Producers Kayla Jane Adams, Gage Hanlon and James Madio for “The Pinewood Man”
Graduate: Producer Steven Nyberg for “The Neighborhood”
