This Fall The Strand held their first film festival, The Strand Youth Film Fest (SYFF).  They had two divisions, a Junior and Senior.  The Senior division was for high school students and contained categories such as: Narrative (fiction), Documentary, and Best in Show. 

With encouragement from Brandon Soards, their Design Tech Teacher, both John Comeau and Emma Jordan submitted films to the SYFF.  John won Best Narrative for his film, The Head while Emma won Best in Show for her film, The Musicbox.  

John is a senior at Oceanside High School and is in his second year at Mid-Coast in Design Technology.  After graduating this year he would like to continue learning about film at Southern Maine Community College in their Communications and New Media program.

Emma graduated from Camden Hills Regional High School this past June. She returned to Mid-Coast this year as a third year student in the Design Technology program after learning that her program at college would be virtual.  Last year she earned 3rd place in the Joe Bornstein Arrive Alive Contest, a senior only contest.  And in 2018, as a junior, she placed 2nd in the TV/Video Production SkillsUSA Maine contest.  She plans to attend college in person next fall at Southern Maine Community College for Communications and New Media.  Additionally, Emma does freelance videography, including work for Camden Real Estate Company. 

All submissions can be viewed here.  The Head begins at 38:25 and The Musicbox begins at 41:03.

The Live Screening and Awards Show can be viewed here.  Interviews with John and Emma are at 9:02 and 18:45. The announcement for John’s category is at 41:37 and Emma’s at 43:53.