Award-Winning Student Animated Short Screens at LGBTQ+ Film Festival in New York

Campus Communications Staff / Oct 13, 2023

promo image of scream writers
photo of award for scream writers
Twenty-six Columbia College Chicago students made the animated short “Scream Writers” as part of the Animation program's capstone project.

A Columbia College Chicago student-made animated short entitled “Scream Writers” will screen as an official selection of ImageOut: The Rochester LGBTQ+ Film Festival on Saturday, October 14, in Rochester, NY. This is the second festival for "Scream Writers." It was previously shown at OUR PRIDE Video Fest 2023, where it won the Best Comedy Animation Award.  

Students made the short during the 2022-23 school year as part of the Animation program's capstone experience called Animation Production Studio (APS), a two-semester course. Led by Associate Professor Ron Fleischer, who served as executive producer, the project involved Columbia students, with the following playing key roles: 

  • Jill Ahmann, director 
  • Joey Brittingham, producer 
  • Cat Cosajay, art director 
  • Peyton Zignego, writer 
  • Genus Griggs, technical director 

The short tells the story of horror writer Emmett Warren who finds himself going head-to head with the spirit of a long-dead screenwriter from the early days of Hollywood. 

“This film is special because it is representative of the students who created the film,” Fleischer says. “A good portion of my class was LGBTQ+ and this film features the first gay and trans characters in an APS film, normalizing their relationship. It's also a beautiful film, with a great deal of attention paid to cinematography and lighting.” 

“Scream Writers” can be screened virtually until May 15. Visit here for details.  

 

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