Premiere of the Dolby Institute x Ghetto Film School Filmmaker Challenge: Finish the Script Year 2 Winning Films

Last night, the four winners of the Dolby Institute x Ghetto Film School Filmmaker Challenge: Finish the Script Year 2 premiered their completed short films at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. 

Photo by Bahareh Ritter/(L-R) Miguel Ramirez, Kaitlyn Ali, Glenn Kiser, Carlos López Estrada, Britney Bautista, Thomas Sawyer

The four emerging filmmakers were selected as winners back in September after devising stories using a scene written by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Carlos López Estrada (Blindspotting, Raya and the Last Dragon) as a starting point. Each winner received $25,000 to complete their respective short films. They also received ongoing mentorship from Estrada, and learned how to best use the ultravivid colors of Dolby Vision and the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos to elevate their filmmaking.

The completed films are now available for the public to watch in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos here.

See below for descriptions of the films: 

Pause/Play, Directed by Kaitlyn Ali

In the sci-fi comedy film Pause/Play, a gamer stumbles into an alternate realm and helps her recently deceased idol pass on into the next life.

Fruits of Your Labor, Directed by Britney Bautista

Fruits of Your Labor is the story of a 17-year-old Tik Tok influencer who leaves her glamorous life behind when she switches bodies with local fruit vendor Marisol Aguilar, by the fate of one magical mango. 

Zora’s Last Day on Earth, Directed by Miguel Ramirez

Zora’s Last Day on Earth is the story of a terminally ill person who decides to take an experimental transfusion pill that allows them to enter their 21-year-old body for just one day.  

Sirens, Directed by Thomas Sawyer

The story of Sirens follows Whitney, an insecure teenager struggling with their identity. Haunted by a mysterious sound and visions of an ornery siren, the teen finds themselves trapped in an alternate world where, in order to escape, they must find the courage to be themselves. 

Additional Information & Assets: 

·      Filmmaker Bios

·      Program Logo

·      Winner Announcement Press Release

·      Images of the Filmmakers, Stills from the Films, & Other Assets