Palm Beach County High School Students Finalists for the $2500 Burt Reynolds Scholarship

Four Finalists Interviewed by Burt Reynolds in his Home

Palm Beach County, FL (February 18, 2014) - Valentine’s Day was extra sweet for four South Florida high school students who qualified for the interview round for the $2,500 Burt Reynolds’s scholarship as part of the Palm Beach International Film Festival’s Student Showcase of Films. These amateur filmmakers, three students Raymond Knudsen, Ben Beeler and Jordan Hall (the only female finalist) from G Star School of the Arts and a fourth Chandler Kravitz from Spanish River Community High School, were picked up in limos at their schools and transported to Mr. Reynolds’s home for their interview on February 14. To qualify, each student submitted a self-authored letter about why they deserve and make for an ideal candidate, a letter of recommendation from their film and television instructor, a five-minute compilation reel, a one-sheet explaining their reel and a post-high school acceptance letter if applicable.

The legendary actor will personally present the scholarship recipient his/her award at the 19^th Annual Student Showcase of Films ceremony on Friday, March 14 at 10:30am at Lynn University’s Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center in Boca Raton.

Michelle Hillery, Palm Beach County’s Deputy Film Commissioner stated, “Mr. Reynolds is so welcoming and supportive of all the students with a passion for the production industry, and we are honored that he takes the time to personally connect with these young filmmakers in his own home no less.”

 About the Student Showcase of Films

Each year, top industry professionals judge the submitted films and competition finalists are honored at a sizzling live awards show for more than 700 attendees from around the state. Winning student films will also be screened in their entirety on the “big screen” at the students’ own premiere during PBIFF, April 3-10, 2014.

 This program is funded by the PBIFF, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, the Palm Beach County’s Office of Economic Sustainability and the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission.