Westfield’s Got Talent: 2 Westfield Students’ Film Win Awards

Since 2016, New Jersey students in grades 1 through 12 have gotten a shot to show off their talent in The Big Dreams Youth Film Festival, the youth portion of the Westfield International Film Festival.  Young filmmakers compete for the awards Best Animation, Best Narrative, Best Documentary, and Best Film of the Festival.  Category winners receive a trophy and $10 gift card to Westfield’s own Morano Gelato.  The winner of the Best Film of the Festival award makes a guest appearance on the television show, “Classic Movies with Ron MacCloskey” and has a special screening of their film at the main event, the Westfield International Film Festival.

This year, two of the awards went to Westfield students. Madeline Manger, age 9, won Best Narrative for her film, “School Friends.” Her film protrays three best friends who get into a fight, get into trouble, yet ultimately makeup. And  Zach Marcus, age 12 of Westfield & Jordan Mirrione, age 12 of Scotch Plains, received the Rising Star award for their film “You Are Not Alone,” a movie is about a boy whose house is broken into while he is home alone. Congrats to these ambitious students. We can’t wait to see you on the silver screen! See all the winners and their titles below.

​BEST NARRATIVE – GRAMMAR SCHOOL:
“School Friends”
Directed by Madeline Manger (9)”
Grade 3 from Westfield​​