SFFILM Education is pleased to present the eleventh annual Schools at the Festival Student Essay Contest at the 2019 San Francisco International Festival. This contest is made possible by the generous support of the Nellie Wong Magic of Movies Education Fund, endowed by Tim Kochis and SFFILM board member Penelope Wong to honor the memory of her mother, Nellie Wong (1917–2007), who was an avid filmgoer and cinephile. Developed to support the year-round outreach efforts of SFFILM Education, the Fund aims to cultivate students’ imaginations, enhance their critical thinking and creative writing skills and instill a greater appreciation for the magic of movies in young audiences of the Bay Area.
2019 Winners
High School
First Place ($500 cash prize): Isabella Verdugo
Runner Up ($250 cash prize): Amina Fuller
Middle School
First Place ($300 cash prize): Zoe Teu
Runner Up ($150 cash prize): Charlie Adams
Grade School
First Place ($150 cash prize): Ava Bar-Illan
Runner Up ($75 cash prize): Hudson Addiego