Art Brondo, North American Division
Southern’s School of Visual Art and Design was well-represented at the North American Division’s annual Sonscreen Film Festival, April 3-5, 2025, at Loma Linda University Church in Loma Linda, Calif.
Film production major at the time and now recent graduate Ashelen Rojas, ’25, won the Best in Festival and Best Document Short categories for her film, Papaviejo. Jhared Tula, junior film production major, also won awards in two categories: Best Narrative Short for The Field Between Stories and Best Art/Experimental Short for Senses.
Special Jury Awards were earned by three students in four categories. Ruslan Zavricico, senior film production major, was awarded for Achievement in Narrative Directing for his film On Hold, and Social Impact in Storytelling for Asylum Seeker; Zane Taitano, senior animation major, won for Advancement in Technical Animation; and Connor Nelson, junior film production major, was awarded Best Original Score.
In the pitch competition, Southern student Sophia Schwartzrock, senior film production major, won first prize of $3,500 for her film, The Ice Cube Movie.
There was also a special screening of a project by recent alum and 2023 pitch competition winner Ashton Weiss, ’25, during the festival. Titled Last Light, the project was directed by Zach Gray, ’99, dean of the School of Visual Art and Design.
“We’re grateful for awards, but we’re even more grateful for the community found at Sonscreen and the growing sense that creative filmmaking is valued within the Adventist church,” said Nick Livanos, ’07, associate professor of film at Southern. “Our students find fellowship and future collaborators through the connections made possible by the North American Division.”
Southern Adventist University | November 2025
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