A Message from the Dean (cont.)
While still a student, Sabrina Dhawan (MFA 2002) wrote the screenplay for Monsoon Wedding, a feature film directed by Adjunct Professor Mira Nair that received the Golden Lion at the 58th Venice International Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe. Joan Stein (MFA 1999) and Christina Lazaridi (MFA 1998) won a Student Academy Gold Medal, a Director’s Guild Award, and an Oscar nomination for Best Short Film in 2001 for One Day Crossing. And Theatre Division alumni Colin Campbell (MFA 1996) and Gail Lerner (MFA 1996) were also nominated for the Best Short Film Oscar in 2001, an example of how our students successfully cross disciplines even after graduation. Finally, this past February, the student team of David Pastor Viejos, Jim Pellegrinelli, and Kerry Shields won the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker’s Award; their film will soon be amusing audiences on 10,000 screens.

Clearly, we are at the top of our game. The results of the Film Division’s hard work and dedication can be seen in the work in this festival. We are appreciative of our sponsors this year in particular as they have chosen to support us when our needs are the greatest. They are very special and we are deeply grateful to them.

Bruce W. Ferguson
Dean, School of the Arts
Columbia University