Cheyenne wins Gold Selection at Columbia College Hollywood

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A beaming Cheyenne Tan with her award.

LOS ANGELES: Cheyenne Tan, a 2011 student of St Mary’s Secondary School, Kuching, was awarded a Gold Selection prize by a panel of entertainment industry judges at the 2017 CCH Film Festival, which was held on Oct 13-14 at Columbia College Hollywood’s Los Angeles campus.

Tan’s film was among 30 works by the school’s students and graduates that were screened for the 500 attendees at the event.

“The professionalism, creativity, and skill that was embodied in Cheyenne’s film, as well as all of the screened content at this year’s CCH Film Festival, was truly impressive,” said Stephen Herring, Director of Career Development & Alumni Relations at Columbia College Hollywood.

“The young filmmakers behind these amazing short films are focused, driven, and 100 percent ready to pursue vibrant careers in the industry.  Their abilities are a fantastic reflection of the quality of our curriculum and faculty – as well as their own innate talents.”

According to a press release, Tan’s winning film, which she produced and co-directed, was a documentary called ‘Starting From Scratch’.

The film follows Athena Yap, who quit a successful engineering career to pursue her dream of opening a dog bakery in Los Angeles.

“I was confident that our film would win something because of the incredible story that we were telling, but definitely not the Gold Selection,” says Tan, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinema and Television Production, Editing and Visual Effects in 2017 from Columbia College Hollywood.

“My co-director and I were completely in shock when they announced our names, and we’re deeply honoured.”

Tan believes that the quality of her work has been enhanced by her experience at Columbia College Hollywood.

“My CCH education has given me the confidence to step up and tell stories that matter to me and others,” says Tan, who is currently pursuing a career as a documentary filmmaker.

“The students and the faculty give you the courage to be as creative as you want to without the fear of being judged, and I think that’s so valuable for filmmakers and artists who are beginning their creative journeys.”