Press Release
On Saturday March 4th, the 10th annual Salem Film Fest presented awards to Fairhaven High School for this year’s Five Minute Student Documentary Contest, a regional film festival competition highlighting student filmmakers. The Salem Film Fest received over 120 films from many schools across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The festival screened the top 12 films Saturday morning at CinemaSalem.
Fairhaven High School received the first place award for senior Noah Duarte’s “Estranged: A Love Letter to New England.” Fairhaven also received the fifth place film, Michael Sargent and Jeffrey Szynal’s “Dear Meghan.” It was also noted that Students from Fairhaven were the farthest school to submit to this festival.
Noah Duarte’s “Estranged: A Love Letter to New England,” is an open letter to the vast culture and aesthetics of New England, and how New England has inspired Noah to become the person he has and will become. The film was produced earlier this year in 2017, and was included with Noah’s media production portfolio.
The film was part of Fairhaven Media Production Class’s Open Letter Project, challenging students to create a poignant and powerful visual letter that communicates an idea or advances a discussion with a mass audience. The film was produced in two months, and Noah wrote, shot, and edited the film.
You can view and share Noah’s film here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=f1rtZnYZZ0s&t=10s
Michael Sargent and Jeffrey Szynal’s “Dear Meghan,” is an open letter to anyone that has lost someone special in their life. Michael lost his sister Meghan Sargent to a car accident in 2015, and Michael decided to write his open letter to his sister.
Jeffery Szynal assisted Michael, creating his vision, shooting and editing the piece. The film is a heart wrenching response to a very tragic event, but challenges people to appreciate the people in their own lives and not to take them for granted.
This was also part of the Open Letter Project for Fairhaven High School’s Media Program. The film was created in three months, with Michael and Jeffrey working on this project continuously. You can view Michael and Jeff’s film here: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=f1rtZnYZZ0s &t=10s
The philosophy of Fairhaven High School’s Media Production program is dedicated to motivating, inspiring, empowering and engaging all students to become life-long learners within a rigorous technical and creative multimedia program.
Our core belief is to create respectful, tolerant, responsible citizens of the 21st century in a safe and secure learning environment.
The course reflects the standards set forth by the Video and Radio Production Vocational Technical (VTE) Frameworks and the objective contained within the six strand of the VTE Frameworks.
Celebrating ten years of unparalleled success, Salem Film Fest 2017 (SFF), one of the nation’s leading all-documentary film festivals, kicked off with an impressive Gala at the historic Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. Film screenings took place March 3–9 at CinemaSalem, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), and the National Park Service Visitor Center.
Gala attendees received a complimentary Salem Film Fest Tribute Magazine and Program, with photos, memories and highlights from the festival throughout the years.
Proceeds from the Gala will support an endowment for continuance of the all volunteer, nonprofit SFF. For more information, visit http://salemfilmfest.com/2017
Salem Film Fest concentrates on well-told stories with strong technical elements and interesting visual approaches, letting narratives unfold that wind their way through the human experience in the USA and foreign lands. Many of the films represent a US, East Coast or regional premiere. Filmmakers are expected to be present for more than half of the screenings, giving audiences a unique advantage to learn about the documentary process.
SFF 2017 offered a diverse schedule of feature length and short documentaries, parties, discussions, meet-and-greets, family-friendly screenings, student film showcases, and opportunities to meet visiting filmmakers in intimate settings.
Click here to download the entire 3/9/17 issue: 03-09-17 Candidates
