This year promises to be the most impressive Film Festival yet, with the debut of the Adobe Premiere editing software for all the movies, groundbreaking cinematography, and new, original scripts; this will make the nominations for the nine categories harder than ever. Without further ado, here are my picks for all nine categories, including nominations and the winners.

Achievement in Music

Brian Hazerjian

The senior has been a stalwart of a continuously impressive music crew in the Walpole Film Festival, including greats such as Caleb Cofsky and Chris Nee. This year, Hazerjian is the clear favorite — his impressive Hans Zimmer like score for Imception and the equally impressive soundtrack for Xavier Grades will propel Hazerjian to his first Achievement in Music Award.

Nell Gordon

Caroline Falvey

Patrick Connell

Maria Earabino

Jimmy Martin

Best Director

Hardiman, The Cleaners

Senior Rory Hardiman is the most experienced director in the Film Festival this year and is coming off an Alan for Best Director from last year for his silent movie, The Hall Monitor. With a script three years in the making, a smartly casted acting core, and a brilliantly edited movie, Hardiman should be a shoo-in for his second consecutive Best Director award.

Marc Sheehan, Carmichael

McKeon/Mullen, Xavier Grades

Kougais/Barry/Ferguson, The Haunting of Emily White

Best Actor (5)

Marc Sheehan, Christian Carmichael, Carmichael

Out of all three years that junior Marc Sheehan has acted in the Film Festival, the role of Christian Carmichael in Carmichael is easily the most expansive and complex yet. Sheehan’s serious role, filled with important — yet subtle — facial expressions and pronunciations is a far cry from his supporting actor roles in both Finals Day and Human Behavior. However, his experience not only within the Film Festival but also as a part of groups like Walpole Children’s Theater should propel him to this year’s Alan for Best Actor.

Patrick Baker, JJ Wells, Xavier Grades

Jack Stedman, Adande, Imception

Maria Earabino, Jessica, The Haunting of Emily White

Brian Tracey, Ricky, AP Health

Best Supporting Actor (5)

Maggie Moriarty, Trista, The Cleaners

Despite the senior’s fairly small role, M0riarty rises above a strong supportive acting class concentrated in a few movies. Carmichael and The Cleaners both have three contenders for supporting actors, which could result in a split vote; but Moriarty, who excelled in her relatively small role in The Treasurer, should be able to hold off strong competition within her own movie and outside.

Maddy Waple, Hannah, Xavier Grades

Rob Boush, Blair, Carmichael

Brendan Chaisson, The Cleaners

Pete Hoegler, Harper, Carmichael

Best Screenplay

Carmichael

Peter Hoegler, Elizabeth Ryan, and Marc Sheehan started last year on a script that wanted to challenge the materialistic society in high school — especially Walpole High School. Challenged by Mr. Alan to listen to typical high school conversations, the three took off on a script that delves into a satire of the artificial lifestyle of many teachers, a la American Psycho. The Cleaners and AP Health, both older scripts, will contend; but Carmichael’s subtleties should carry it to win Best Screenplay.

The Cleaners

AP Health

The Haunting of Emily White

Xavier Grades

Best Faculty Performance

Ben Kampper, AP Health

Kampper might be the only close to automatic winner in this year’s festival. In his first year of a major role, Kampper plays an apoplectic teacher (not a far cry from himself) that stops at nothing to beat Ricky in an obstacle course. With the crazy props and ridiculous action shots, Kampper’s skill — and willingness to do all the crazy stunts — will bring him his first ever Faculty Performance award.

Chris Whittenhall, The Cleaners

William Hahn, Carmichael

Gabriel Bakale, Martin in the Margins

Ed Connor, Senior Bucket List

Best Editing

Rory Hardiman, The Cleaners

Hardiman is easily the best behind the computer in this year’s Festival: he, along with Mike McKeon, won Best Editing last year with their silent movie The Hall Monitor. This year, Hardiman embarked on bringing one of the longest scripts in Film Festival history to life with The Cleaners. Some of the editing may not be seen (that would be the point) but other edited clips — especially in the breakout scene — will give Hardiman a close win over the horror, The Haunting of Emily White. 

Marc Sheehan, Carmichael

Matt Brownsword, Montana Gulbrand, Remy Love, and Frank DeBlasio, Imception

Peter Kougias, John Barry, Jamie Ferguson, The Haunting of Emily White

Best Art Direction

AP Health

In a year littered with unbelievable Art Direction, AP Health trumps them all: an obstacle course set in the town forest, a ridiculous AP Health classroom setting, and an intense, environmental classroom scene give this movie more of a genuine feel. Imception and The Haunting of Emily White will give AP Health a run for its money, but, in the end, the complexity of AP Health’s Art Direction will give them the slight edge.

Imception

Carmichael

Xavier Grades

The Haunting of Emily White

Senior Bucket List

Best Picture (4)

The Haunting of Emily White

This year’s much anticipated Best Picture winner might be the biggest toss up of any of the categories, with Carmichael, The Cleaners, AP Health, Xavier Grades, and Imception looking to be possible contenders. However, in what might be the biggest surprise of the night, I believe The Haunting of Emily White will come out on top. A horror unlike any of the others before, The Haunting draws inspiration from the great horror movies of the past, including The Shining and Carrie, and the cinematography and direction of this film should make it truly horrifying and truly the best.

Carmichael

The Cleaners

Xavier Grades