Students from the Film+Media Department at Burlington College were awarded the Jury Award for Best Film at Sleepless in Burlington, a 40-hour film competition sponsored by the Vermont International Film Festival. Other competing schools were UVM, Middlebury College, and Champlain College.
In a unanimous decision by a jury of professionals headed by director Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World), Burlington College’s award-winning Sanctuary tells the tale of a reclusive hermit who inhabits a condemned orphanage. When the building is seized by a construction foreman and developer, the hermit emerges from the shadows in an attempt to reclaim his home.
Utilizing natural light and filmed on location in the former St. Joseph's Orphanage, Director Carol Charbonier reflected on the experience, "I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to direct a film that lends a sense of compassion and acceptance to those of us that find comfort in a life of solitude, along with being afforded the chance to honor such a beautifully nostalgic building."
Advised by Film+Media Chair Mary Arbuckle and faculty member Jesse Kreitzer, the production team included Carolyn Charbonier (Director), Nina Handy (Director of Photography), Tynan Shevlin (Sound Recordist), Misha Zhuykov (Editor), Chris Conole (Co-Producer) and Evan Land (Grip).
“It was such an amazing opportunity to be a part of this competition and be able to show the community the type of work that Burlington College's film department is capable of,” said Director of Photography Nina Handy.
The experience served as a microcosm of the Burlington College Film+Media Department’s commitment to developing original, non-derivative works that privilege complex characters and story over style.
Advisor Jesse Kreitzer said, “Both Mary and I share the same guiding principles as filmmakers and educators. We train our students to embrace limitations, use available resources, and delve into personal histories to create intimate and meaningful stories. This award is an affirmation that we’re on the right track.”