Television and Film MA Student Mauricio Chernovetzky makes the National Finals of the 35th Annual Student Academy Awards competition of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy Foundation.

After spending two years studying directing at the legendary National Polish Film School, Mauricio Chernovetzky continued making films in the graduate program at San Diego State University. His latest and most ambitious project, “Cassandra,” emerged out of the SDSU Jury challenge to interpret a scene from Euripides’ Greek Tragedy, “The Trojan Women.”

Mauricio set the scene on the edge of a rocky desolate Mexican border town. His poetic reinterpretation received unanimous praise by the Jury panel. This encouraged Mauricio to develop “Cassandra” into his Master’s Thesis project.

Shot on Super 35mm, the 27-minute short explores the experience of cultural dislocation and psychological dissociation brought about by the mysterious reality of the border wall.

“Cassandra” recently premiered at the 2008 San Diego Latino Film Festival.

Read more about this film and get up-to-date news on Mauricio’s latest projects at www.likefireproductions.com

SDSU Student-Director Mauricio Chernovetzky (2nd from left) directs Cassandra.