Four student short films from California State University Northridge have made the final cut for the 24^th season of public television station KCET’s “FINE CUT Festival of Films.” 

The series received more than 350 submissions from students across Southern California. Only 33 were selected as finalists, including four made by CSUN students as their culminating projects. The films will be aired on PBS SoCal, Chan. 28, beginning Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 10 p.m. 

“It’s an honor to have four of our student films selected for FINE CUT,” said CSUN film professor Judy Korin, who specializes in documentary filmmaking. “To have their work screen on PBS gives them an opportunity for their shorts to be seen by a wide audience.”

Among the four CSUN student films selected were two documentaries, “#2276” and “Hooligans.”

“#2276,” directed by Sara Sims, chronicles her discovery that she was conceived with the help of a sperm donor and the subsequent journey to connect with her half siblings. Sims dedicated the film to the man who raised her, and said she will always view him as her real father. “#2276” has been featured in other film festivals and was a finalist for the Student Academy Awards. 

“I honestly think that the film stands out because of how personal, honest and emotional it is,” Sims said. “My inspiration was my love for my family. I want to make sure that everyone involved knows how much I appreciate them.”

“Hooligans,” co-directed by Jerome Mariategue and Chelsea Ringle, tells the story of how Mariategue became friends with three students in his Asian-American Studies class during freshman year at CSUN. When schools closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the friends drifted apart, despite Mariategue’s effort to maintain their relationships. The film explores how each of their lives have changed since the pandemic, and their individual mental health struggles. 

“I did not expect this film to become a finalist in a film festival, let alone be broadcast on television” Mariategue said. “It is a film that I spent so many days and nights editing, so I hope that it can help people relate and move them to tears.” 

Korin, who teaches in the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication, agreed.

“Everyone went through the pandemic, so it’s this common experience that we all share, but we each had our unique experience as well,” she said. “For students it was particularly hard.”

 “There’s the expression ‘write what you know,’ and these students are making films about what they know — both films tell very personal stories” Korin continued. “It’s authentic, and that’s why I think these films resonate because it’s really the voices of their generation.” 

Korin noted that original music was created by CSUN music students for both films, and the poster artwork for “Hooligans” was done by a CSUN art student. 

“It is the best of CSUN creativity,” she said. “If you look at the films that made it to this level of the FINE CUT Festival, many of them come from schools like CalArts and USC. It’s an honor that our students regularly appear in the same categories as students from such respected institutions. And it’s not   just students from CSUN, but from other Cal States as well.”

The other two CSUN student films in the festival are “Nerot Shel Shabbat” and “5 Star.” 

“Nerot Shel Shabbat,” directed by Lital Mizrahi, is about a young Jewish couple who flee the Soviet Union on Shabbat in an effort to give their soon-to-be-born child a better life.

“5 Star,” directed by Jerald Flowers, is the story of a high school basketball star who appears to  have a future as a professional basketball player. While his parents try to decide his future, he struggles with making decisions on his own. 

“The inclusion of the ‘scripted’ senior film projects ‘5 Star’ and ‘Nerot Shel Shabbat’ is an affirmation that our film program is a top tier program on par with the best,” said CSUN film professor Nate Thomas, who specializes in scripted films. “These films represent the diversity in our program and the diverse voices that is continually needed in the film industry. The quality of the work also not only represents the talent of our filmmakers but the talent of the distinguished faculty that guides and mentors them.” 

“Hooligans” is scheduled to be aired on Wednesday, Sept. 18. “Nerot Shel Shabbat” is scheduled to be aired on Wednesday, Oct. 2. “#2276” and “5 Star” are scheduled to air on Wednesday, Oct.16. 

In 2023, three CSUN thesis films were finalists for the FINE CUT, including “Shred,” “Don’t Blink” and “Un Día Más Un Día Menos.” Going onto win multiple film festivals, “Shred” was about a group of queer Latinx roller skaters who build a community. “Don’t Blink” was about an Asian-American beauty influencer and her struggles as a daughter of immigrants.  “Un Día Más Un Día Menos,” was about a boy being raised by his aunt and uncle and growing up with his cousin. 

CSUN’s Department of Cinema and Television Arts, housed in the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication, has an international reputation for producing dedicated and talented entertainment industry professionals who recognize the value of hard work as they learn and continue to perfect their craft. Its alumni work in all aspects of entertainment media, from writing, producing and directing to manning cameras and having the final say in what project is made. The Hollywood Reporter and Variety have regularly ranked CSUN among the top universities in the country for cinema and television arts education.