PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (April 29, 2010) -- A crowd of more than 800 talented students and film enthusiasts gathered on April 23 to celebrate Florida's finest in student filmmaking at the Palm Beach International Film Festival's 15^th Annual Student Showcase of Films (SSOF) awards gala. Competition finalists walked the red carpet - Hollywood style - as they entered the Palm Beach Gardens Community High School's new theater.

The ceremony opened with a high-energy fashion show featuring styles from Amanda Adams Couture and Dillards, choreographed by Palm Beach Fashion Camp and modeled by Palm Beach County high school students, followed by a hilarious Lady Gaga and movie parody performed by local comedian Frank Licari. He and Jesse Furman, both from The Jove Improv in Jupiter, served as hosts of the show.

Palm Beach County Commissioner and longtime film industry supporter Burt Aaronson announced the notable presenter and area native Burt Reynolds, who awarded his eponymous scholarship to local high school senior Paul Halluch. Nationally known sixth grader and Pahokee resident Damon Weaver - renowned for his interview with President Barack Obama and appearances on CNN, Fox and MSNBC - presented the PSA award during the show and conducted pre-show interviews on the red carpet.Other presenters included Dean Lyon, visual effects supervisor of Academy Award winning films like Armageddon, Independence Day, Jerry Maguire and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy; members of the pop-rock band Easton, Palm Beach International Film Festival Chair, Yvonne Boice; documentary filmmaker Suzanne Niedland; and WPTV News Channel 5 anchor Tonia Rogers. Smitty and Batnails from 103.1 The Buzz radio station were also in attendance. Live music at the event was provided by Smitty's band, Ladies and Gentlemen. The entire show can be viewed on WebCast-TV.com/TheStudentShowcaseOfFilms.

"Bringing the Student Showcase to Palm Beach Gardens High School's brand new theater allowed us to elevate the ceremony to a whole other level and open it up to about 100 more people than years past, said Michelle Hillery, Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission's Director of Operations and Programs and the Student Showcase of Films' Executive Producer. Both on stage and behind the curtain, these students continue to amaze us each year, and we're so happy to provide them an exciting and entertaining outlet to present their artistry to peers and industry professionals like Burt Reynolds, while encouraging their continued education and careers in film and the arts.

Top student filmmakers were recognized in five film categories, a screenwriting competition, a poster contest and two scholarships. SSOF awarded more than $15,000 in cash prizes and scholarships to the students and their schools. The 2010 winners are:  

1^st Place College Feature/Shorts: $1,000
Ken Adachi, Picture Day, Florida State University;  

2^nd Place College Feature/Shorts: $750 (tied)
 Stephen Bell, The Quartering Act, Florida State University;
Anjuli Hinds, Zimbabwe, Florida State University.  

1^st Place High School Feature/Shorts: $1,000
Lori Perry, Love Story, G-Star School of the Arts; 

2^nd Place High School Feature/Shorts: $750
Kenzie Cooke and Marcos Gasc, Sunder, G-Star School of the Arts;  

3^rd Place High School Feature/Shorts: $500
David Harrison, Lost and Gone Forever, Design & Architecture High School.  

1^st Place Documentary: $750
Sophie Green, Nanny's Untold Story, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts.  

1^st Place Music Vide $750
Aaron Kurlander, Savannah Bailey, Jessica Davis and Sophie Green, Sleepyhead, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts.  

1^st Place Commercial/PSA: $750
Jared Mizel, Adam Greenstein and Jordan Greenstein, Listen Up, Spanish River High School.  

1^st Place Screenwriting: $750
Michael Chasin, Death & Life, Miami Film School.  

1^st Place Poster Award: $1,000
Hailey Mears, Seminole Ridge High School.  

1^st Place Audience Award: $1,000
Tyler Rabinowitz, A Piece of Cake, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts  

Burt Reynolds Scholarship Winners: $5,000
Paul Halluch, G-Star School of the Arts.  

Sara Fuller Student Scholarship Winner: $500
Alexander Mitchell, Suncoast Community High School.  

The Student Showcase is funded by the PBIFF, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, the Palm Beach County Economic Development Office and the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission. For more information about the Student Showcase of Films, please visit www.pbfilm.com or the Facebook group page.  

About the Palm Beach International Film Festival
The PBIFF is a not for profit 501 (c) 3 founded in 1996 with the vision of offering an exciting cultural venue for the community and to be a tremendous fundraiser for educational film and television programs. The festival hosts more than 20,000 filmgoers annually, has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Independent Film Festivals in the World and has screened more than 150 World Premieres.  

The PBIFF has welcomed a bevy of top celebrities and filmmakers including: Academy Award® Winners Adrien Brody, Anthony Hopkins, Tommy Lee Jones, Faye Dunaway, Dennis Hopper, Louise Fletcher and Michael Caine; Academy Award® Nominees Salma Hayek, Edward Norton, Robert Evans, Sylvester Stallone, Woody Harrelson and Burt Reynolds. Along with countless other legends, stars and filmmakers that have created movie magic for the past 80 years, including: Roger Moore, Faye Wray, Esther Williams, Anouk Aimee, Samuel L. Jackson, Cyd Charisse, Richard Zanuck, William Friedkin, Brett Ratner, Jacqueline Bisset, Michael Clarke Duncan and Rod Steiger.  

To date, the PBIFF has donated over one million dollars of proceeds film and television programs.For more information about the PBIFF visit pbifilmfest.org.  

This program is funded by the PBIFF, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, the Palm Beach County Economic Development Office and the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission.