New York Film Academy Documentary Department graduate, Louisa Merino ’11, (Mexico) won the honor of representing New York City in Seimens’ big international CityStories project for her film, Andre’s River. The award includes full funding for a short documentary about environmental sustainability in the city; and the one-on-one mentorship of Academy Award winning documentary director, Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth).
I have the privilege to be representing NYC in the CityStories film project. All areas involving sustainability and the emerging green economy are vital in the awakening that we, as a collective consciousness, are having. And so to have been chosen to make the film is for me a great honor.
With fellow Documentary Department grads, cinematographer, Marco Vitale ’11 (Italy) and producer, Tierney Bryce ’11 (USA), Merino’s film Andre’s River tells the story of an “at risk” boy in the South Bronx who uses the green movement to transform himself from an anger-driven outsider into a popular leader in the local grassroots movement to “green” the Bronx.
Now that the first stage has started, I could not be more excited after having had the first Skype meeting with director Davis Guggenheim. It was absolutely inspiring to talk to him! Even in broad terms, he gave us great tips for the making of our films. I am thrilled and looking forward on having him as a coach throughout the making of the short. - Louisa Merino, Better Cities Now
Documentary Department grads Sarah Choi ’11 (Canada/Korea), Michael Jovic ’10 (UK) , Todd Leatherman (USA), Mariela Nieves ’10 (Puerto Rico) , Francesca Pagani ’11 (Italy) , Bianca Zanini Vasconcellos ’11 (Denmark/Brazil) were also among the ten Finalists in the NYC contest.
