The College of Staten Island’s annual film festival unfolded in mid-May, transforming the Media Screening Room in the Center for the Arts into a vibrant showcase of student creativity and collaboration. This eagerly anticipated event honored the culmination of a year’s worth of dedication, storytelling, and technical mastery by the College’s talented filmmakers.
The festival, known for its inclusive spirit, celebrates the diverse voices and visions of student filmmakers. From final projects to creative side endeavors, these films run the gamut of genre and purpose—some born from class assignments, others from sheer passion for the craft. Many of the projects emerged from tight-knit collaborations, reflecting the camaraderie and teamwork that define the college’s film community.
Awards in multiple categories recognized exceptional achievement, highlighting the breadth of talent on display. Mohamed Alasri’s film Adam received the prestigious Best Student Film award, also earning Outstanding Cinematography and the coveted Audience Choice Award. Jayden Metellus’s The Strong One and the Fragile One stood out with wins for Best Alternative Category Film, Outstanding Editing, and an Honorable Mention for Cinematography and Direction.
Eden Martinez’s After Closing impressed judges and audiences alike, taking home Best Narrative Film, Outstanding Direction, and an Honorable Mention for Outstanding Writing/Story. Other standout winners included Michelle Gordon’s Phantom of You for Best Micro-Short, Dominic Moore’s iSky for Outstanding Writing/Story, and Neha Lohia’s Home, which received the Creative Achievement Award.
The festival also honored runners-up and honorable mentions in nearly every category, ensuring that a wide range of voices were recognized for their contributions. These acknowledgments reinforce the festival’s ethos of celebrating not just the finished product, but also the collaborative spirit and resilience that go into every frame.
Featured filmmakers this year included Ariana Gaytan, Emm Wilson, Dominic Moore, Jacob Klipstein and Carmine Mazza, James Cruz, Jayden Metellus, Menkuri Cockburn, Michelle Gordon, Mohamed Alasri, Austin Maida, Dennis Krumer, Eden Martinez, JJ Choi, Kristen Sparacio, Kyle Collesano, and Neha Lohia. Their films reflect the many facets of the human experience—funny, tragic, heartwarming, and experimental—and stand as a testament to the college’s commitment to nurturing emerging voices in cinema.
Look for many of this year’s entries to be featured on CSI-TV’s Student Film Showcase in Fall 2025. Below, see a Photo Gallery of the event, courtesy of Emylia Benavente.
