Mirta Desir ’23 M.F.A. won a Grand Prize at the 2024 Directors Guild of America Student Film Awards for her short film, Jean & I. Taking first place in the African American category/East Region, Jean & I tells the story of Michelle, a 10-year-old survivor of the 2010 Haiti earthquake who attempts to escape both her past and her new home when she learns that her “new” family is not what they seem. “The Feirstein community deserves a tip of the hat for helping bring this compelling story to life,” Desir said. “From Professors Ricardo Hernandez Anzola and Jodi Gibson, who provided critique during the writing phase, to Professor Daniel Garcia, who provided thoughtful insight during post-production, their guidance, along with the work of a talented cast and skilled crew of mainly Feirstein students made Jean & I shine. This award recognizes the contributions of each person involved, including that of producers Clairesa Clay [’23 M.F.A.] and Charles Pigott, cinematographer Kusi-Quyllur Del Castillo, and editor Giuseppe de Matteis.” Writer, producer and director Mirta Desir ’23 M.F.A. (left) and cinematographer Kusi-Quyllur Del Castillo at the Directors Guild of America Student Film Awards. The crew comprised other Feirstein students and graduates, including Imani Garner ’23 M.F.A. (music supervisor and composer); Karen Chen and Taya Higgs (sound designers and composers); Kevin Fentress ’24 M.F.A. (first assistant camera position); Arsalan Danish ’22 M.F.A. (camera operator and gaffer); H.J. Kim (steadicam operator); Samuel Romero (first assistant camera position); Julia Zanin de Paula ’22 M.F.A. and Rafael Alvarado ’21 M.F.A. (second assistant camera position); Greg Fitton ’22 M.F.A. (electrician); Jack Davis (key grip); Nelli Toth ’23 M.F.A. (grip); Vicente De Paulo, Emeka Chukwurah, and Sasha Podolyanchuck (grip and electric swing); Julie Neira Campoverde (sound mixer); Lin Tzu Yu visual effects supervisor); Hrvoje Budimir Bek (production designer); and Wesley Jean-Pierre and Jorès Phillipe (COVID-19 compliance officers). Jean & I tells the story of Michelle, a 10-year-old survivor of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Jean & I tells the story of Michelle, a 10-year-old survivor of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Desir is currently in development for her debut feature film, Voudou Child, whose screenplay was the recipient of the Lynn Shelton “Of a Certain Age” Grant. She has earned other prestigious grants and awards for her writing and directing, including the Caucus Foundation Grant and the New York Women in Film & Television Award. Her manuscript, Saving Jude, recently won the Penguin Random House Publishing / WNDB Revisions Workshop grant. The East Region screenings and ceremony took place at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theater in New York on Dec. 18. The awards were established by the DGA’s National Board 30 years ago to address the significant underrepresentation of directors of color and women directors in feature filmmaking. Jean & I has been submitted to several film festivals. To see where you can see the film, follow @jean_and_i on Instagram. “It’s so exciting and inspiring to see the incredible work on display at the 30th Annual DGA Student Film Awards,” said DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter. “These directors represent the very best of a new generation of filmmakers, and we are proud to showcase their projects. Over the past 30 years, the Student Film Awards has been a launchpad for many incredible directors, including Jon Chu, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Ryan Coogler, Nicole Kassell, and Sylvain White. Their success is a testament to the power of this program and the importance of highlighting the rising stars in our industry.”
