PITTSBURGH, PA – The Pittsburgh Film Office recently presented La Roche University student, and women's soccer team member, Carola Corbi Guirao with the 2022 Pitch-Burgh Audience Choice Award.
Ms. Corbi Guirao earned the award for her film, "Nostalgia," which was inspired by a Spanish song, "Giovanni de Luca," in which a woman discusses what it means for her to be nostalgic.
Assistant Professor and Department Chair of Film Crystal Fortwangler, Ph.D., said, "'Nostalgia' beautifully reflects Carola's interest in a mixed-media film style. Her work often incorporates both a narrative and documentary style, and reflects a poetic vision of storytelling."
Students from universities across Pittsburgh submitted their original work for consideration. In April the Pittsburgh Film Office presented all submissions and announced the winner at Pitch-Burgh: The Screening. The virtual event included featured guest Valkyrie Speaker, post-production coordinator for El Matador Productions.
Ms. Corbi Guirao created "Nostalgia" as part of La Roche's Film Portfolio class, led by adjunct faculty member Rishi Sethi. The course provides instruction and guidance for students as they prepare their professional film portfolios. In consultation with faculty and peers, students revise and improve upon prior and current projects to strengthen their portfolios.
"The class helped me to really work on the film—not only to have one more piece for my portfolio, but also for me to be aware of my aesthetic and style as an artist to create a more cohesive portfolio," Ms. Corbi Guirao said.
Originally from Alicante, Spain, Ms. Corbi Guirao is majoring in film with a minor in photography. She completed an internship with Image 987, a Pittsburgh-based film and production company, during the Spring 2022 semester.
"In her time at La Roche, Carola has proven to be a strong student and passionate artist with a distinct voice. She has an interest in design, photography and animation, and her films reflect those skill sets," Mr. Sethi said. "'Nostalgia' is a prime example of her aesthetic. It incorporates family vacation footage, audio recordings, sound effects, projections, hand drawn animation and narrative footage, and expresses deeply felt personal yet universally relatable emotions."
"Nostalgia" also placed as the Runner-Up Audience Choice Award in La Roche's Spring 2022 Film Screening.
The film program at La Roche prepares students for entry-level jobs and further education in the field. Professors are industry-connected and have experience creating narrative, documentary and experimental films.
Pitch-Burgh is an annual event held by the Pittsburgh Film Office in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Film and Media Educators (PFAME) Alliance, which is comprised of the department leaders and professors of multiple university-level film programs in the region. PFAME was formed in 2019 to create communication and collaboration among the multiple university-led film programs and their students. The Alliance is comprised of representatives and the students from Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, La Roche University, Duquesne University, Community College of Allegheny County, Point Park University, Robert Morris University and the University of Pittsburgh.