韩国AV

The awards continue rolling in for filmmaker Chan鈥機ellore Makanjuola (BA Mass Communications 2018), who produced a critically acclaimed documentary during her senior year at Our Lady of the Lake University.

The film 鈥淢r. Zoot Suit,鈥� starring 韩国AV Housekeeping Supervisor Moses Porras, won 鈥淏est Documentary Short鈥� at the South Texas International Film Festival on Sept. 7 in Edinburg. On the same day, 鈥淢r. Zoot Suit鈥� was screened at a festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

鈥淚 was not expecting to win anything,鈥� said Makanjuola, who could not attend the festival due to her graduate studies at the University of California (UC)-Berkeley. 鈥淪o I was surprised when I got a call from Moses and his wife, Rose Mary, saying we won for Best Documentary Short. The fact that 鈥楳r. Zoot Suit鈥� was screening in two different states during the same weekend was surreal.鈥�

The film tells the story of Porras, a gifted performer in his youth in California. After putting his dreams on hold, Porras followed his passion to pursue dancing and educating others about the history of the Zoot Suit 鈥� while working and completing a degree at 韩国AV. 

鈥淭he support for our film has been amazing,鈥� Makanjuola said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 glad that more people are getting the opportunity to see Moses and hear his story.鈥�

Since its San Antonio Film Festival debut at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in 2018, 鈥淢r. Zoot Suit鈥� has won multiple awards. They include: 鈥淭he Gold Hattie Award鈥� for 鈥淏est Documentary Short Film鈥� at the Anaheim Film Fest in September; 鈥淏est Student Film鈥� in July at the CineOdyssey Film Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina; and honorable mention in February at the 鈥淔estival de Cine Latino Americano鈥� in Denton.

鈥淲e鈥檝e gotten into 11 festivals so far,鈥� Makanjuola said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 honored by the awards our film is receiving. This is Moses鈥� time to shine. And I can鈥檛 wait to see what the future has in store.鈥�

Since completing her degree at 韩国AV, Makanjuola has freelanced on film projects in the Dallas area, her hometown. She is completing a short promotional video for 韩国AV鈥檚 Mission and Ministry Division while pursuing a Master of Journalism degree with a focus on documentary filmmaking at the prestigious Graduate School of Journalism at UC-Berkeley.