Local Residents Win Video Awards

Rockland Community College’s (RCC) Sixth Annual TV Video Festival Awards received a record number of video submissions this year. Among the winners were residents from Nanuet, New City and Nyack.

The 103 entries were divided into three categories: RCC students, RCC alumni, and high school students.

Nyack High School student Lucas Ruderman won a grand sweep of the high school division, winning first, second and third place. Ruderman received first place in the High School Awards for his short film “A Silence,” second place for his short film “That's Amore” and third place with  Jason Pointek of Valley Cottage for the comedy “Lucas is Paula Dean.”

RCC student Orlando Hurtado Jr. of Nanuet won for his music video  “We Found Love.” Fellow RCC students joined him in the winners’ circle. Nyack residents Jolie Almodovar won for her movie trailer “Higher Education” and Alec Biello for the comedy “Adetylophyl.” David Merino of West Haverstraw received honors for his promotional video “GNYC Pathfinder Camporee,” Emmanuel Rodriguez of Suffern for the short film “Paranoia” and Sienna Jeffries of Pomona for her Public Service Announcement “Initiation.”

Other winner of RCC Awards included David Merino whose documentary “Haiti Mission Trip” captured the Grand Prize for Best Overall, earning him an Apple iPad. Emmanuel Rodriguez claimed prizes for his animation project “Imagination” and  commercial for “Canon.”

The RCC  Alumni Awards went to 2012 alumni Tyler Silver of New City for his short film “Nature” with Best Overall honors going to 2009 alumni Anthony J. Milio of Tappan for his promotional video “Jamis 650B Promo.”

“Here at RCC, we have students who are passionate about digital media,” said Festival founder and Director of RCC’s Multi-Media Production Center Janice Goldstein. “Once they graduate, they transfer into wonderful colleges and are producing amazing work. We have alumni working in the field; directing, producing, writing, and editing.”

Goldstein, a 1983 RCC alumni, said the competition is getting tougher as high school students prepare for the event each year and word spreads drawing videos from high school students outside Rockland.

RCC’s Student Government Association, Alumni Association, Performing Arts and Hospitality Program assisted with the recently held festival which was live video streamed by students from the Communications Remote Field Production class.