A lively Q&A session with the filmmakers and two of our esteemed judges followed the January 24, 2021, premiere screening of the 2020 Young Filmmakers Contest winning films. Judges Kenny Turan (retired longtime Los Angeles Times film critic) and writer/producer/actor Aydrea Walden (creator and star of the Black Girl in a Big Dress web series) shared their impressions of the contestants and shared advice for other aspiring filmmakers.
The young filmmakers shared their inspiration, writing process, challenges of filming during a pandemic, how they cast their films and much more.
The videos are now available on the JASNA Southwest YouTube channel, where you can watch or rewatch the full event, the playlist of winners (as shown at the event) or revisit any of the individual films:
“Morland and Mishaps” by Courtney Birnbaum (third place, 20+)
“Letters to Cassandra” by Sajween Khan (third place, under 20)
“A Certain Step Towards Falling in Love” by Ellie Cagle (second place, under 20)
“A Letter to Jane” by Lydia Smith (second place, 20+)
“Handsome, Clever and Rich” by Thomas Fitzgerald (first place, under 20)
“Jane Austen Virtual Book Club” by Jillian Davis and Yolanda Rodriguez (first place, 20+)
Courtney Birnbaum shared a link to the concept for her series based on Northanger Abbey.
The chat from today’s event is also available on our website.