The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that a record 559 entries, from students representing 103 U.S. colleges and universities, will be vying for the 2009 Student Academy Awards. Additionally, a record 57 entries from 39 countries have been submitted in the Honorary Foreign Film award category, including first-ever entries from Egypt and Estonia. Trophies and prize money will be presented to the winners on Saturday, June 13, at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
As per the Academy's press release, the Student Academy Awards were established in 1972 "to support and encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level. Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal awards may be presented in each of four categories: Animation, Narrative, Documentary and Alternative. Additionally, one film is selected each year to receive the Honorary Foreign Film award."
A complete list of schools and countries represented in the competition is available at http://www.oscars.org/awards/saa/entrants.html.
The 36th Annual Student Academy Awards ceremony on June 13 is free and open to the public, but advance tickets are required. Tickets may be obtained online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office or by mail. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 247-3600.