Using a wide array of creative filmmaking styles, students who entered the “What’s Your Unforgettable Princeton?” short video contest shared their most memorable experiences in 90 seconds or less.
The winners include Nicolas Chae, of the Class of 2021, whose “Unforgettable Princeton” won the grand prize — a ticket package to the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Chae’s video documents his first year, starting with move-in day and continuing through his academic and extracurricular experiences. “My first semester at Princeton has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but luckily I’ve had my camera to capture so many moments,” Chae said.
Austin Mejia, of the Class of 2021, won second prize for “Forever,” a collaborative effort that credits many students on its final frame. The text was created in collaboration with senior Sergio Cruz, who read a poem he wrote, juxtaposed with images Mejia edited from videos submitted by his friends. “I realized the moments I cherished the most were those I spent with my friends,” Mejia said, “so I reached out to them to send me videos of moments they love.”
Student honorable mentions were awarded to Katie Duggan of the Class of 2019, Talia Krainc of the Class of 2021, William Lin of the Class of 2020, and Grace Link of the Class of 2021. The contest was judged by Michael Cadden, chair of the Lewis Center for the Arts, and sponsored by Princeton University Annual Giving.
Although the contest has concluded, students are encouraged to continue to share their own “Unforgettable Princeton” short videos, which may be featured on the “What’s Your Unforgettable Princeton?” site.