Announcement Highlights:
- Award-winning actor, writer, producer and filmmaker Kevin Smith has selected a shortlist of 3 incredible artists out of over 900 applicants from around the world.
- Smith selected finalists from around the world based on creative potential and with consideration to personal and financial hardships they’ve had to overcome in pursuing their creative dream.
- With only 1 winner in each category, Kevin Smith will be awarding more than $250K USD in total through partial scholarships to 13 other finalists that were selected this year, across three different scholarship programs (Acting, Writing and Film Production).
- Seattle, Washington resident Cory Provost was the full-ride scholarship winner selected by Kevin Smith for the VFS Writing for Film, Television & Games Program, valued at more than $50,000 USD.
- Pineville, West Virginia Resident Jamie Leigh Reichert was the full-ride scholarship winner selected by Kevin Smith for the VFS Acting for Film & Television Program valued at more than $50,000 USD.
- Boston, Massachusetts resident Miles Benson was the full-ride scholarship winner selected by Kevin Smith for the VFS Film Production Program, valued at more than $50,000 USD.
(Vancouver, BC) January 18, 2019 – And the winner is…Today VFS and Hollywood icon Kevin Smith announced the three winners of the 2019 Kevin Smith Scholarships for Acting, Writing and Film Production at Vancouver Film School. Selected personally by Kevin Smith, these 3 creative students will be eligible to attend VFS sometime in the 2019 academic school year with the help of a scholarship program put together in partnership with Kevin Smith.
Recognized as one of the top global Film Schools by both Variety Magazine and Hollywood Reporter Magazine, Vancouver Film School partnered with VFS Alumnus Kevin Smith to offer these special scholarships to support his efforts to help creative students who have overcome different hardships to attend a world-class school and take the first steps towards a career in the entertainment industry.
The Kevin Smith Writing, Acting and Film Production Scholarships opened in October 2018 with student interest in the thousands. From there, an incredible list of almost 500 applicants was put together with the hope of finding a shortlist of finalists from all over the world that Kevin Smith would select personally to receive either a partial scholarship or a full-ride scholarship for the winners.
Kevin’s contribution to the wide range of creative arts, including his inspirational work in independent film, make him an obvious choice as a steward for these new scholarships and to identify amazing young creative talent that might otherwise be overlooked or miss a chance at a great creative education.
For more information about the scholarships, or visit https://vfs.edu/scholarships-overview-2018
About Vancouver Film School
In 1987, VFS revolutionized entertainment arts education with the introduction of the world’s first one-year intensive film production diploma program. Today, VFS is Canada’s premier post-secondary entertainment arts institution, offering acclaimed and award-winning one-year diploma programs in 3D animation, film, TV, programming, video game, motion and interactive design. For the past 30 years, VFS has been devoted to delivering the highest quality education, and developing the next generation of leaders in the entertainment and creative media industries.
About Kevin Smith
From his initial wins at Sundance and Cannes for Clerks to his Humanitas Prize for Good Will Hunting to wins with Wizard, Empire, and MTV Kevin’s work has been widely recognized as insightful, incisive, and as a window into modern culture. His list of awards encompasses over 20 wins and 10 additional nominations spanning two and a half decades. Vancouver Film School granted Kevin an honorary degree in 2005, accompanying two doctorates of Humanities from ISU and MSU. Critically acclaimed hits such as Clerks, Dogma, and Red State has earned over $460M at the box office, solidifying his place as a pillar of film culture in the 21st century.
With a career spanning nearly three decades and multiple forms of creative expression–including film, television, comic books, and games–Kevin’s work encompasses the commitment to excellence and independent-spirit celebrated at Vancouver Film School.
TO BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF THE FINALISTS OR VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL:
Media Contact:
Christopher Ian Bennett,
Executive Producer & Head of Marketing
Vancouver Film School
[email protected]
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