Syfy And Columbia University Announce New Student Filmmaker Award

Syfy and Columbia University School of the Arts today announced the creation of the Syfy Imagine Greater Development Award, which will be awarded to the top student filmmaker in the Columbia University School of Arts Graduate Film Program whose project best exemplifies creativity and imagination.

The 2010 award will be presented during the Columbia University Film Festival on Friday, May 7 at the DGA (Directors Guild of America) Theatre in New York City.

In addition to mentoring from Syfy programming executives, the winner will receive $10,000 towards the production of their film, produced as a requirement for the MFA Degree from Columbia University School of the Arts. The winning film will be screened at the 2011 Columbia University Film Festival.

The three finalists for the 2010 Syfy Imagine Greater Development Award are:

Elisa Lleras, Producer, and Simao Cayette, Director/Writer, for The Trip

Esra Saydam, Producer, and Christina Choe, Director/Writer, for I am John Wayne

Gerry Kim, Producer, and Stephanie Wu, Director/Writer, for Green Plastic Sandals

Said Thomas Vitale, Executive Vice President, Programming and Original Movies, Syfy: "As one of television's most prolific producers of original movies, Syfy is delighted to partner with Columbia University School of the Arts to mentor an aspiring filmmaker from Columbia's prestigious program."

"Columbia University School of the Arts could not have a better collaborator than Syfy to help the careers of our talented students," said Jamal Joseph, Professor and Chair, Columbia University School of the Arts Film Program. "Syfy's commitment to bringing great storytelling to the public through the medium of film fits perfectly with the School of the Arts' mission to nurture great storytellers. We are thrilled to welcome Syfy as a partner for our Film Festival."

Columbia University School of the Arts is among the premier arts institutions in the United States, offering Master of Fine Arts degrees through four programs: film, theatre arts, visual arts, and writing, and a Master of Arts in film studies. The faculty includes both academics and practitioners, providing a well-rounded program for emerging contemporary artists. Film Program Alumni include 2010 Best Director and Best Picture Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, Point Break), Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don't Cry, Stop-Loss), James Mangold (Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma) and Albert Berger (Little Miss Sunshine, Hamlet 2).

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine Greater.)

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