Los Angeles, CA – October 25, 2023: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held the grand 50th Student Academy Awards® ceremony, honoring outstanding student filmmakers from renowned colleges and universities across the globe. The illustrious Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medal awards were unveiled during a captivating in-person event hosted at the Academy’s iconic Samuel Goldwyn Theater, nestled in the heart of Beverly Hills.
This milestone year saw a staggering 2,443 submissions from 720 distinguished academic institutions worldwide, underscoring the competition’s role as a global launchpad for emerging cinematic talent. The event commenced with a warm welcome by Patricia Cardoso and featured esteemed category presenters, including the directors of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, SAA committee chair Peggy Rajski, and past Student Academy Award winners Brad Bailey, Sujin Kim, Ken Kwapis, Freddy Macdonald, Olivia Peace, and Kevin Wilson Jr. The entirety of the remarkable 2023 ceremony is available for viewing [here](insert_link).
2023 Student Academy Award Medalists:
**Alternative/Experimental**
- **Gold**: “Skin,” Leo Behrens, American Film Institute
**Animation**
- **Gold**: “Boom,” Gabriel Augerai, Romain Augier & Yannick Jacquin, École des Nouvelles Images, France
- **Silver**: “Diplomatie de l’Éclipse,” César Luton, Achille Pasquier & Clémence Bailly, MoPA 3D Animation School, France
- **Bronze**: “Mum’s Spaghetti,” Lisa Kenney, National Film and Television School, United Kingdom
**Documentary**
- **Gold**: “Wings of Dust,” Giorgio Ghiotto, New York University
- **Silver**: “Duet,” Lyuwei Chen, New York University
- **Bronze**: “Hasta Encontrarlos (Till We Find Them),” Jean Chapiro, Columbia University
**Narrative**
- **Gold**: “Invisible Border,” Mark Gerstorfer, Filmakademie Wien, Austria
- **Silver**: “Revisited,” Iain Aigin Stronach Forbes, Den Norske Filmskolen, Norway
- **Bronze**: “Istina (Truth),” Tamara Denić, Hamburg Media School, Germany
A momentous occasion was marked by École des Nouvelles Images (France), receiving its first-ever accolade.
All films that received the coveted Student Academy Award are now eligible to compete in the 2023 Oscars® in the categories of Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, or Documentary Short Film. These winners now join the prestigious ranks of past Student Academy Award recipients, including luminaries like Patricia Cardoso, Pete Docter, Spike Lee, Patricia Riggen, and Robert Zemeckis. These alumni have collectively amassed an impressive 67 Oscar® nominations and secured 15 prestigious Academy Awards.
The Student Academy Awards, established in 1972, stand as a pillar of support for emerging talent on a global scale. It provides invaluable opportunities for these budding filmmakers to showcase their work and make their mark on the industry.
**ABOUT THE ACADEMY**
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences boasts a global membership of over 10,500 accomplished artists and leaders in the film industry. Renowned for recognizing and celebrating all facets of moviemaking, the Academy presents esteemed awards, including the Oscars®. Additionally, the institution houses the world’s largest film museum and collection, preserving the rich tapestry of cinematic history and delivering engaging programs that explore the past, present, and future of cinema. Across all its initiatives, the Academy brings together global audiences, including its members, the film industry, and cinema enthusiasts, united by their shared passion for creating and enjoying outstanding films.
