“Pillars”
Student Yi Tang and alum Haley Elizabeth Anderson win Grand Jury Prizes at AFI Fest 2020.
Anderson's Pillars won the Live Action Grand Jury Prize. The festival’s jury statement was as follows: “The filmmaker navigates the coming-of-age terrain with a mesmerizing point of view anchored in stunning performances by its young cast. The nuanced showcased in explored Black girlhood in today’s America resonated strongly with us.”
Pillars Synopsis: One Sunday at church, 12-year-old Amber experiences her first kiss, a moment of innocence that triggers a series of awakenings: sexual, emotional and religious.
Yi Tang won Special Mention Jury Prize for Black Goat. This was the jury's statement: “Gifted with an original cinematic voice, the filmmaker reclaims the often-taboo transformation of a young girl’s body in a singular context. Harnessing magical realism to enhance this journey from shame to acceptance, this film both enchants and empowers.”
Black Goat Synopsis: After a late night ghost story, the new girl in the nunnery gets her first menstruation. She keeps it as a secret until she finally bleeds during the pray. She believes that to avoid further bad luck, she has to sacrifice a black goat.
Find a full list of winners at Variety.