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24th Annual Fine Cut Festival of Films Announces L.A. Student Winners in Advance of KCET's Broadcast of All Finalist Films in New Season Premiering Sept. 22

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KCET celebrated the work of regional student filmmakers on Sept. 13 at the 24th annual "Fine Cut Festival of Films" held at The Landmark Westwood Theatre in the heart of Westwood Village. Four winning short films were announced and screened from local California film school students selected as finalists by an entertainment industry judging panel.

Variety Senior Editor/KCRW "Screengrab" host Michael Schneider and Senior Entertainment Writer Angelique Jackson took on hosting and presenting the awards in an intimate ceremony. The event was held in advance of KCET's Friday, Sept. 22 at 10 p.m. PT broadcast series premiere of the new season. Films will also be available for streaming at kcet.org/finecut and the PBS app.

(Left to Right) Chapman's Vivienne Ayres, Audrey Shuppert and Nidhi Kumar, AFI's Sheheryar Ahsan, Cal Arts' Christina Woo and UCLA's Christina Sun Kim accept their awards at KCET's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
(Left to Right) Chapman's Vivienne Ayres, Audrey Shuppert and Nidhi Kumar, AFI's Sheheryar Ahsan, Cal Arts' Christina Woo and UCLA's Christina Sun Kim accept their awards at KCET's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
1/5 (Left to Right) Chapman's Vivienne Ayres, Audrey Shuppert and Nidhi Kumar, AFI's Sheheryar Ahsan, Cal Arts' Christina Woo and UCLA's Christina Sun Kim accept their awards at KCET's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
(Left to Right) Variety’s Senior Entertainment Writer Angelique Jackson and Variety's Senior Editor/KCRW "Screengrab" Michael Schneider host this year's KCET's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" at The Landmark Theatre on September 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
(Left to Right) Variety’s Senior Entertainment Writer Angelique Jackson and Variety's Senior Editor/KCRW "Screengrab" Michael Schneider host this year's KCET's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" at The Landmark Theatre on September 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
2/5 (Left to Right) Variety’s Senior Entertainment Writer Angelique Jackson and Variety's Senior Editor/KCRW "Screengrab" Michael Schneider host this year's KCET's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" at The Landmark Theatre on September 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
(Left to Right) KCET Senior Director of Production Angela Boisvert and KCET producer Erin Ball arrive at KCET's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
(Left to Right) KCET Senior Director of Production Angela Boisvert and KCET producer Erin Ball arrive at KCET's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
3/5 (Left to Right) KCET Senior Director of Production Angela Boisvert and KCET producer Erin Ball arrive at KCET's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
(Left to Right) Two of this year's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" industry judges creator/director Elizabeth Ito and supervisor/story artist Michael Herrera arrive at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
(Left to Right) Two of this year's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" industry judges creator/director Elizabeth Ito and supervisor/story artist Michael Herrera arrive at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
4/5 (Left to Right) Two of this year's "Fine Cut Festival of Films" industry judges creator/director Elizabeth Ito and supervisor/story artist Michael Herrera arrive at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
Guests enjoy the student short film screenings at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
Guests enjoy the student short film screenings at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET
5/5 Guests enjoy the student short film screenings at The Landmark Theatre on Sept. 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of KCET

On behalf of AFI student director Michael Lazovsky, fellow AFI student and writer Sheheryar Ahsan was presented the The Jack Larson Southern California Student Filmmaker Award which recognized exceptional storytelling for their short film "STALLED." Other winners included Chapman University’s Vivienne Ayres, Audrey Shuppert and Nidhi Kumar for their documentary film "A Piece of Myself," Cal Arts' student Christina Woo for her animated film "Pipe Dreams" and on behalf of UCLA student director Jun Hee Han, fellow UCLA student and filmmaker Christina Sun Kim accepted the Narrative award for their short film "Uncle."

Each of the winning filmmakers received packages with prizes valued at over $45,000 thanks to a variety of prize donors including Keslow Camera, The Camera Division, International Documentary Association, Adobe Creative Cloud, Quixote Production Supplies, Wacom, Stage TH!S, DCP for All and more.

Funding for "Fine Cut" is generously provided by The Bridges/Larson Foundation.

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