Team "JettFlicks" earned awards for Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Sound/Music/SFX for their ambitious single-shot film The Hold-Up. (Photo courtesy of Jett Shields)
By John-Paul Bonadonna
The creative prowess of University of Windsor students and alumni featured prominently at this year’s Mark Boscariol 48-Hour FlickFest.
The unique event — part of the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) — challenges filmmakers to write, shoot and edit a short film in just two days.
Competing alongside 19 teams (including one from the U.S.), several UWindsor-led production teams took home top honours across multiple categories.
The festival’s top prize, the Mark Boscariol Best of FlickFest, went to Clean-Up Crew for their gripping short film Penitence.
The film swept multiple awards including Viewers’ Choice, Best Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Performance.
Team leader Sam Rosso, a UWindsor film student, said the victory was especially meaningful after years of competing.
“Evan Johnson, Antoine Taouil and I have been entering FlickFest for the past four years,” Rosso shared. “Winning Best of FlickFest after so much perseverance feels incredible. I couldn’t be prouder of our editor, Kendra Schmidt, and everyone who shaped our film into what it became.”
Rosso added that the event is an invaluable experience for student filmmakers.
“I encourage any film student to take part. Don’t be intimidated—everyone is welcome. It’s one of the best opportunities I’ve had since moving to Windsor.”
Another standout team, JettFlicks, earned awards for Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Sound/Music/SFX for their ambitious single-shot film The Hold-Up.
“We wanted to do the entire film in one take to push ourselves and we actually did it,” said team leader Jett Shields.
“The experience was intense but so much fun. FlickFest is an amazing way to connect with Windsor’s creative community.”
Birdmen, led by UWindsor student Tighe Forsyth, won Best Debut for A Severe and Continuous Lapse in Judgement. Forsyth said the experience was both instructive and entertaining.
“It was great making something with no excuses. We were just creating and having fun,” Forsyth reflected.
“Next year, I plan to go bigger and challenge myself even more.”
UWindsor staff member Peter Marval also earned recognition with his team Marval Studios for the film [•REP], which won Best Directing, Best Performance, Best Use of Assigned Prop and the Spirit of FlickFest award.
“I love the creative chaos that comes with a tight deadline,” Marval said.
“This year, our prop blender became something truly disturbing and full credit to Fay Lynn from Post Productions for that.”
Rounding out UWindsor’s strong showing, Dream Weavers, led by Jennifer Budinsky, a UWindsor alum, received the Best Use of Assigned Character award for Ricky’s Quickies.
“Spending time with great friends and being creative is what I enjoyed most about taking part in this year’s festival,” said Budinksy.
“We were really proud of the way it turned out and had so much fun doing it. We couldn’t stop laughing which made it hard sometimes to get clean takes!”
The University of Windsor’s strong presence on stage during the awards ceremony of the 48-Hour FlickFest highlights not only the creativity of its students and alumni, but also as a driving force behind the region’s growing reputation as a hub for emerging filmmakers and storytellers.
Watch the Mark Boscariol 48-Hour FlickFest films on YouTube.