The Long Beach Convention Center & Visitors Bureau (LBCVB) celebrated the winners of its Beach with Benefits Video Contest by presenting the inaugural Sandy Awards Hollywood-style early last week at the Terrace Theater.
In December 2014 the LBCVB asked the community a simple, yet potentially overwhelming question, “What excites you about Long Beach?” Filmmakers were asked to create a video from 15 seconds to 180 seconds in length to best showcase their favorite places and what they love about our vibrant City. The 35 short films were judged based on content and originality and garnered more than 3,500 votes during the online contest.
Mayor Robert Garcia and a host of Long Beach dignitaries presented each winning amateur filmmaker with an etched-glass Sandy Award and cash prizes ranging from $200 for third place to $1,000 for first place. Over 300 enthusiastic attendees rallied and clapped for their favorite films and directors.
The Fan Vote Awards were presented to first place winner Diana Pham, whose film “Long Beach Through My Eyes” took viewers on a journey to the Long Beach Museum of Art, a longboarding trip on the bike path, a stroll through Shoreline Village and a ride on The Pike’s own ferris wheel. Maria Faith Garcia took second place for “The Wonders of Long Beach,” an editing feat using only still photographs. Michael Ballard took third place with his film “My Town – iluvLB.”
The LBCVB Staff Vote award for first place was given to Chaz Curry for “We Are Long Beach,” an impressive look at the hustle and bustle of the city created with timelapse and hyperlapse technology. Astounding shots of the Star Wars-esque ATAT-like cranes loading cargo at the Port of Long Beach, slow-motion captured jelly fish at the Aquarium of the Pacific and health-minded yogis stretching their limbs at the beach truly painted a well-rounded picture of our lively city.
Cornell Herg took second place for “Why I Love Long Beach” with a colorful, animated take on some of the characters living in Long Beach, including its beanie sporting grandmas and a nonchalantly loitering mustachioed policeman. Nima Rezai took third place for “The Various Wonders of Long Beach, CA,” with the description, “No matter what your pace, this city has something fantastic to offer.”
Awards for the honorable mention categories for aerial footage, most breathtaking shot, group experience, poignancy, original music, youth media, and LOL, were given to Eulises Jimenez, Marco Fernandez, Bill Geal, Virginia Lee, Andrew Hadzopoulos, Mike Donelon representing the ASK Foundation, Charles Whitehead and Jodi Irish representing Jordan High School.
You can watch all the videos by clicking here.
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