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Overview

Brief Synopsis

Three high school teens have gathered to write a script about a 70s cop show but the fictional characters they have created live in a digital world that requires them to act out the story. As the script takes an unexpected turn, one of the fictional characters begins to question his masters.

Reaction

Diamond Game was selected to be part of some of the most established, storied, and prestigious film festivals, including the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM), the longest-running film festival in the Americas.  The film was selected along with 11 other domestic and international films to compete for an SFFILM Golden Gate Award (GGA) in the Youth Works category, which is among the most significant honors for emerging global film artists in the United States.  

The film was selected as the Best High School Film in the 2020 American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase, which showcases the works of next generation filmmakers in the Roger Ebert Conference Center at The American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival.

At Westflix, a premiere showcase for high school filmmakers in California, the film was honored with Lizzie Awards for Best Overall, Direction and Originality (Live Action).  A selection of comments by industry-professionals who served as Westflix judges is featured below.

“Any movie with 1971 Pontiac GTO is a win for me! – Perfectly constructed – A seasoned hand was behind this film’s creation.”
   – John Gatins

“Loved seeing more diversity in the casting and the commentary about cinematic tropes and stereotypes was great.”
   – Ellie Wen

Stand out performances in this clever and fascinating study of the creative process and individual agency.”
   – Sarah Timberman

Diamond Game received a Remi Award at the 53rd WorldFest-Houston International Film & Video Festival, another well-established and long running competitive international film festival in North America.  At the Phantoscope High School Film Festival, which is produced by the Richmond Art Museum and juried by film industry and creative professionals, awarded Diamond Game Best Film and Best Cinematography.  The film also picked up wins at the CATE Film Festival in Santa Monica, California, and the IndieFest Film Awards, who remarked that it was a “creative concept and execution striking for a 16-year old filmmaker.”

Accolades

2021 AIFF Best of Indie Youth
Content Copyright (c) 2022 Nolan Trifunovic, unless otherwise provided in credits.  All Rights Reserved.
Header background photo on Portfolio page by Shabu Anower.
Header background photo on About page by Thomas Charters.
Header background photo on Contact page by Steve Johnson.