Students in Sheridan’s Media Arts program, accompanied by family, friends, faculty, staff, and sponsors, took to the TIFF Bell Lightbox on May 12 in Toronto for the 2014 Media Arts Awards.
Hosted by Sheridan’s Faculty of Film and Television, the event celebrated the films that Sheridan students produced and developed throughout the year. Students were recognized for their work in areas such as film editing, directing, visual effects, screenwriting, and camerawork. Accolades were presented in 20 categories and included a cash prize or gift certificate.
“Receiving a Media Arts Award means that our hard work is acknowledged and people support us in what we do,” said Gayle Ye, a graduating student from the Media Arts diploma program, and the recipient of three awards this year. For her short film, Her Shadow, Ye took home the WIFT Award for Outstanding Female Graduate, the William F. White Award for Best Direction and the Meridian Arts Award for Best Screenplay. “This type of encouragement from our mentors at Sheridan is especially important to us as we are new graduates entering the (film and television) industry,” said Ye.
Guests had the opportunity to screen the nominated films in one of the TIFF Lightbox theatres before the awards presentations. “We are continually amazed by the quality of work that our students produce. They have exciting careers ahead of them,” said Stephen Barden, a professor of Film and Television at Sheridan. Ye’s film was recently accepted into the Cannes Short Film Corner, a place where she can present her film and network with professionals in the industry. For all of this year’s Media Arts Award recipients, their time in the spotlight may just be beginning.
Her Shadow | Trailer from Gayle Ye on Vimeo.