2015 YIM winners Ocean Costa and Samuel Harding spend 1 week at New York Film Academy honing their skills, and local filmmaking workshops for youth scheduled
for October.

GEORGE TOWN, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 – Two young filmmakers from Cayman spent an action-packed week at a New York Film Academy summer movie camp as part of their prize package from this year’s Young Image Makers Short Film Competition. Senior category winner Ocean Costa, the writer/director/actor of the sentimental short ‘Loss’, counts the opportunity as a major milestone. “My week in New York City was by far the most amazing week of my life. I felt like New York was waiting for me, and she gave a big hug the minute I landed. I met some amazing people, but meeting Mr. Rod Gailes (directing teacher), was the highlight. When he spoke, he made me cry because of how much passion he had. He proved to me that there are so many others who have deep passion like I do, and it has inspired me to work towards a career where I live my passion.”

Young Image Makers (YIM) was created by the Cultural Foundation in early 2010, with support from the Cayman Islands Film Commission to encourage creativity and allow youth to share their passions and perspectives on life. Since its inception, more than 250 student storytellers have submitted original pieces to the Competition covering a wide variety of topics. From dramas to comedies, horrors and more, YIM provides an ideal avenue for budding writer/directors to explore and develop their ideas with guidance from local and international professionals.

This year’s junior category winner Samuel Harding had never made a short film before, but his can-do attitude and persistence in getting his piece ‘just right’ earned him a win for the spooky Possessed.com. “I want to say to other kids: take a chance and go for it. If you’re not confident in your work, try again and again but enjoy what you are doing, have fun, ask your teachers and your parents for ideas, but mainly to try it out – it’s fun. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s silly and give up.”

‘Introduction to Filmmaking’ Workshops will return for a second year on Saturdays in October for students who want to learn the basics of using moving images to tell stories. The workshops are offered free of cost to youth ages 10 – 17, and will be held at Mind’s Eye (Miss Lassie’s) in South Sound. Young Image Makers Short Film Competition opens in January 2016, and it is strongly suggested that all young filmmakers attend the Workshops before entering the Competition. To get in on the action, email [email protected]
or call 949-5477 for details.

For full interviews with Samuel and Ocean about their trips to New York Film Academy which were sponsored by CNCF, Department of Commerce & Investment and Cayman Islands Film Commission, visit www.artscayman.org/young-image-makers
.

Samuel Harding poses in front of the Statue of Liberty
Our Mission:
“To stimulate, facilitate and preserve cultural and artistic expression generally, particularly the preservation and exploration of Caymanian performing, visual and literary arts.”

IMAGES:
Ocean Costa and NYFA instructors Rod Gailes (left) and Daniel Hernandez (right)
Samuel Harding poses in front of the Statue of Liberty