Montverde Academy is proud to announce that student Molly Smith is a finalist in two categories in the Palm Beach International Film Festival’s Student Showcase of Films (SSOF), the largest student film competition in Florida. Her submissions in the Documentary and Screenwriting categories were selected from a field of more than 600 entries.
Molly Smith, a sophomore, is a talented and creative artist whose passion for writing, editing, directing, and composing are evident in the work she creates. She is an adept storyteller who has told the compelling stories of three Montverde Academy students in her documentary, “Finding Home,” which was selected as a Top Three Finalist in The Suzanne Niedland Documentary category at the SSOF.
“I am honored and excited to have my work recognized by the SSOF in this competition,” said Molly. “My goal is to inspire people to start conversations and share their own stories. Through listening to others’ stories we realize that while we are all different, we all deal with things that are very much the same.”
In her screenplay, “Words to Speak, Stories to Tell,” Molly flexes her writing ability with four moving spoken word segments within the story. This element of spoken word may have been key in its selection for a second Top Three Finalist recognition in the Screenwriting category.
“Molly is an exceptional student who has the technical ability and creative capacity to craft compelling films that captivate her audience,” said Mr. Steven Gilbert, Montverde Academy Director of Media Arts. “She has a clear vision of the story she’s telling and is determined to achieve the results she wants. We are very proud of her accomplishments and know this is just the beginning of what she is capable of achieving.”
The SSOF is a juried competition that presents more than $12,500 in scholarships and awards to students. Industry professionals judge the submissions and present the awards at a live show on April 6, at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Winning student films will also be screened on the “big screen” during the Festival.
