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Michael Yu, a filmmaker based mostly in Los Angeles, just lately led his crew to snag seven awards at a worldwide filmmaking competitors.
The 48 Hour Film Mission (48HFP) takes place in 130 cities worldwide yearly, difficult filmmakers to create a brief movie in simply 48 hours. The winners from every metropolis compete at Filmapalooza for an opportunity to showcase their work at the Quick Film Nook of the Cannes Film Pageant.
Below his manufacturing label, Berkmont, Michael led two groups that participated within the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Space branches of the competitors. They kicked issues off by profitable an Viewers Award for his or her Los Angeles movie, then adopted up with a shocking six awards for his or her Bay Space challenge.
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Their first movie, Little Chef, is a touching sci-fi drama a few younger chef who tries to reconnect together with his late mom by cooking one final dish for her. The story wraps up fantastically, emphasizing that it’s much less concerning the cooking and extra about cherishing reminiscences collectively, bringing the chef again to his childhood.
Their second movie, En Garde, takes a special flip as a fantasy drama. It tells the story of two estranged roommates who bond via a sword-fighting journey in a magical realm. Donnie, performed by Fernando Sebastian Monjaraz (Land’s Finish), finds a option to reconnect together with his headstrong roommate, portrayed by Cristian Rodriguez.
Little Chef walked away with an Viewers Award from the Los Angeles competitors, however En Garde shone even brighter. Berkmont’s second movie took residence six awards at the Bay Space competitors, together with Greatest Director for Yu. Editors Cristian Rodriguez and Hayden Eick grabbed the Greatest Modifying award, whereas composer Jarvis Nguyen (who additionally produced) gained Greatest Rating. Erica Coakley and Arjin Unlu earned the movie Greatest Wardrobe.
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En Garde additionally gained the grand jury prize for Greatest Film, propelling it to proceed its pageant journey at Filmapalooza 2025. Though it was chosen because the Bay Space’s bid to the Cannes Quick Film Nook, its pageant run concluded at Filmapalooza. “We’re so grateful to have made it to the ultimate spherical,” Yu mentioned.
Michael Yu, who wore the hats of author, director, and producer for each movies, credit his crew’s collaborative spirit and dedication as key to their success.
For Little Chef, they adopted a “TV writers-room” strategy within the improvement course of, encouraging each crew member to pitch concepts and vote on their favorites. Ultimately, manufacturing assistant Gabo Bendaña’s idea a few chef and his mom grew to become the idea for the movie. “The extra everybody buys into an concept, the extra enjoyable all of us have, and that makes for a stronger piece,” Michael famous. Bendaña, often a writer-director, obtained a “Story By” credit score for his important contributions.
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When it got here to En Garde, Yu initially felt unsure about managing a number of areas, period-piece manufacturing design, and choreographed motion scenes in simply two days. Fortunately, the crew’s numerous skillset pulled via. Cristian Rodriguez not solely edited the movie but additionally performed an on-screen supporting function. Co-writer Mateo Giovannini took on poster design. Fellow writers Erica Coakley, and Arjin Unlu guided artwork and wardrobe, incomes the movie its Greatest Wardrobe award. “Filmmaking is a crew sport,” Yu emphasised.
Wanting forward, Yu and his collaborators at Berkmont are gearing up for the 48HFP competitions later this 12 months. Yu is about to government produce the crew’s entry to the Los Angeles competitors this August, with Abbie Oh Arroyo stepping as much as direct. In September, Yu will tackle the director function for the Bay Space offshoot, aiming to surpass native opponents and safe a Cannes spot in 2026.
Initially from Hong Kong and of each Chinese language and British descent, Michael Yu is a author, director and producer specializing in creating globally interesting movie and tv. Moreover the upcoming Berkmont items, he’s at the moment in improvement for a number of characteristic size tasks.
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His profitable groups from the Berkmont 2024 movies included Abbie Oh Arroyo, Philycius Oey, Gabo Bendaña, Anna Beattie, Jarvis Nguyen, Cristian Rodriguez, Steven Zeng, William Khuu, Erica Coakley, Arjin Unlu, Fernando Sebastian Monjaraz, Mariel Barreda, Julian Vargas, Alex Chun, Sidney Tchanyoum, Brandon Isem Cáceres, Jason Nguyen, Andrey Kapustin, Hayden Eick, Erick Higareda, and Mateo Giovannini.