CONWAY, Ark. (AETN) — The Arkansas Educational Television Network and the THEA Foundation have announced winners in the “Student Selects: A Young Filmmakers Showcase” scholarship competition for high school seniors. 

“Student Selects” is an annual event that grants future filmmakers from kindergarten through 12th grade the opportunity to submit their film and video handiwork for possible broadcast on AETN, streaming on aetn.org and screening at the Little Rock Film Festival. Winning entries will be posted to aetn.org/studentselects, and “Student Selects” will premiere on AETN in two parts Fridays, Sept. 21 and 28, at 9 each night. 

For the third year, the THEA Foundation has awarded four $2,500 scholarships to graduating seniors in the following categories: screenwriting, directing, cinematography and editing. 

• Screenwriting – Emily Webb, Fayetteville High School, “Colors in White.”
• Directing – Marcus Menefee, Hot Springs High School, “Ratical.”
• Cinematography – Jack Carroll, Fayetteville High School, “Colors in White.”
• Editing – Harrison Smith, Fayetteville High School, “Colors in White.”

“Every single student film entered shows hard work, talent, creativity and promise,” Casey Sanders, AETN producer and Little Rock Film Festival youth and education coordinator, said.

“I congratulate the students whose creations garnered them a scholarship and equally applaud each and every entrant for their effort and for participating in the rich and rewarding work of filmmaking.”

Scholarship winning films were also featured at the eighth annual T Tauri Film Festival, the youth division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest. The festival showcases short films made by the growing number of Arkansas filmmakers age 18 and under.

The THEA Foundation is a nonprofit, public foundation founded in 2001 by the parents of Thea Kay Leopoulos, Linda and Paul David Leopoulos. The founders and board of directors have adopted the mission of carrying Thea’s legacy forward through advocating the importance of art in the development of youth through educational and promotional activities and to encourage individual participation in art through scholarship, partnership and other programs. 

The Little Rock Film Festival takes place annually each spring in the historic River Market District. The festival showcases the best in narrative and documentary films from around the world and promotes Arkansas filmmakers through a dedicated program of film screenings, panels, workshops and youth programs.