Charger Filmmakers Win Big in Prestigious Student Production Awards

The writing of the film “Sunrise” was deeply personal to Caleb Taylor ’25. “The initial idea stemmed from me mixing together multiple other stories I had written for this same project,” he explained. “Once I had the basic concept down, “Sunrise” became much more.”

The short film began to incorporate themes that mattered to him, such as grief, addiction, and mental health. “‘Sunrise’ isn’t necessarily about my life,” he said, “but it’s definitely a good way of expressing the way I’ve felt about grief and mental health.”

This approach paid off. “Sunrise” was recognized by the Boston/New England chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, with five student production awards, including Director, Editor, Cinematography, Fiction Film-Long Form, and Audio/Sound. It also took home the Cinematic Excellence Award at the 2025 Digital Media CT Awards. A team of Chargers also won in the music video category for “Ayminor- Back Where we Belong.”

Behind the accolades were long nights, challenges on set, and a firm determination to tell the story. “With a crew of only 11 people and a whole lot to get done in pre and postproduction,” Caleb shared, “I ended up spending a lot of long days and late nights doing extra work on ‘Sunrise,’ and at times it felt pointless. But I kept pushing through.

“The awards we’ve won are all recognition that we worked hard and that this is just the start of what we’re all capable of doing,” he continued.

Caleb credits much of his success to the support and resources he found at the University of New Haven. In particular, he's thankful to the crew’s “amazing faculty adviser Paul Falcone, MBA, who taught us everything we needed to even begin the project,” Caleb said. “He was a major guiding voice helping things run much more smoothly.”

Easy access to professional-grade equipment and shooting locations also played a major role. “The school was super helpful,” Caleb said, “providing us with equipment and allowing us to use on-campus locations for reshoots.”

Still, one of the biggest obstacles was the chaos of filming outside, in public. “A lot of people love to be in front of a camera,” he joked, “and that definitely includes people who enjoy going out on Saturday nights.” Despite the distractions, he said, “The whole team pulled together and really focused during the shoot.”

In the end, it was teamwork that mattered more than just the final product. “’Sunrise’ changed my life,” Caleb reflected. “I made so many close friends with my crew, and even outside of the film, and it allowed me to reach out and connect with people I otherwise probably wouldn’t have.

“I’d gladly do it again,” he continued, “knowing it would lead me to the relationships I have today.”

Mackenzie Marquardt ’26, writer and director of “Through Her Eyes,” told a different kind of story. Her emotionally charged documentary earned three Student Production Award honorable mentions as well as the Emerging Creator Award at the Digital Media CT Awards.

The subject was close to home: her mother’s experience living with blindness. “The hardest part,” Mackenzie said, “was showing my seemingly 'normal' perspective, while also shedding light on my mom’s life in a way that someone who’s never experienced it could understand.”

At first, she struggled with the vulnerability of sharing such a personal story, but she said, “Ultimately, I wanted to raise awareness and share my mom's story in an authentic way.”

While she didn’t take home the top prize, the recognition she received was still deeply validating. “It acted as a pushing force that reinforced what I already knew: my mom’s story needed to be shared,” she said. “It gave me internal confirmation that what I was doing was meaningful and worth all the effort.

“She doesn’t quit, no matter how difficult things get,” Mackenzie continued, speaking about her mom. “And I find that strength more inspiring than anything.”

The night of the awards was more than a celebration, it was a moment of realization for many of the students involved.

“My fellow classmates and I attended the 48th Boston/New England Emmy Awards in Boston, Massachusetts to accept our Student Production Awards,” shared Alexa Maniccia ’26, who served as assistant director on the music video for Ayminor’s Back Where We Belong, which won in the music video category. “Attending the Emmy Awards and standing in front of professionals in my industry who were going to be honored on the same stage as me was such a surreal and amazing experience.”

Alexa recalled how powerful it was to be surrounded by industry leaders and Emmy winners, and to realize she was being recognized among them. “We were waiting in line to take photos and ended up in front of a group of people who had just won actual Emmys,” she said. “That moment helped it really set in for me.”

What stood out most to her, beyond the glitz of the ceremony, was the collective achievement. “It was clear we exceeded many of the other schools with the amount of awards, and we were able to win against bigger schools with bigger communication programs,” she said. “This opportunity goes to show how talented the students at the University of New Haven are.”

Mackenzie also pointed to the mentorship she received from Prof. Falcone as a key to her success.

For Mackenzie, it was Prof. Falcone’s Film Production I class that opened the door. “Paul noticed the potential of my documentary before I even did,” she said. “He helped it come to life in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”

Caleb echoed that sentiment: “Paul always said to me that this was my chance to make the story I wanted, and I’d like to think I took that and ran.”

Their advice to future filmmakers is simple but powerful. “Don’t make your movies trying to please 100% of the people who watch them,” Caleb said. “Try to make a movie that means something to you and that will mean something to others.”

Mackenzie agreed. “Stick to your authentic vision and trust your gut when making anything. Don’t be afraid to tell a story that matters to you. Your passion will shine through.”