VALDOSTA — Kat Garrido has always been inspired by movies and the directors behind them.

Particularly movies that combine art and film, such as stop-motion films, she said.

“I’m a big fan of both, so the opportunity to combine those things was really attractive to me,” Garrido said.

So, the 17-year-old from North Carolina decided to make a four-minute-and-30-second-long stop-motion movie called “Daydreamer” and submit it to the South Georgia Film Festival.

Her movie, along with nine other movies directed by high school students, was shown Saturday in the Student Union Theater at Valdosta State University.

Garrido’s movie won the high school category and won overall best director.

VSU hosted the film festival Friday through Sunday. 

The event showcased the beauty of the South Georgia region and its people with film screenings, panels and networking events, according to a press release. Attendees were also able to meet and learn from media professionals.

“Daydreamer” follows a faceless character made out of felt daydreaming in class about saving a cloud kingdom from a monster. It is, of course, all stop-motion animation.

The short movie took four months to make, Garrido said. That means it took roughly one month per minute of the film. She said she dabbled in stop motion before, but this was her first full stop-motion project. This is her first entry into a film festival.

“This particular one has been accepted into a few others and this is the first one I’ve attended with my film in it,” Garrido said. “It’s been really cool to see and be with other filmmakers and be able to talk with them.”

She got to meet fellow movie maker Derek Walker, 18, of Atlanta, who also submitted a movie for the SGFF. His movie, “Global Dynamics: A Robot Doc,” is a documentary following Decatur High School’s Global Dynamics robotics team.

Walker said it isn’t the first film he’s made, but it is his first documentary. He said his dad was his original inspiration to begin shooting movies.

“He would make these different videos for us, like highlight reels for our basketball games and other things like that,” Walker said. “Since I already liked making stories, combining it with technology and making movies was just the next step.”

He said he would make movies as part of school projects. The SGFF wasn’t his first film festival, but he said seeing his movie poster up on walls and watching it with a crowd was fantastic.

“Usually I’m really nervous to have strangers see my films, but it was such a comfortable venue I felt proud to be here,” Walker said.

A senior at Decatur High School, he said he has been bitten by the film bug and wants to go to college for film. 

Garrido, a junior at Gaston Day School in North Carolina, said she is working on a second film and plans on continuing to make movies through her senior year. For college, she is looking to major in film and business, she said.

Garrido gave advice for people interested in making films. She said to just make a lot of stuff.

“A lot of it is going to be bad, but eventually, you’ll move on and start making good stuff,” Garrido said. “Just do it. Don’t be scared and go ahead and make it.”

Sunday, awards were presented to the winning films. Prizes were awarded in various categories, and winners received trophies and prizes from local sponsors. VSU also offered scholarship opportunities to high school and college winners.

Open Category: “Cursed World Problems” by Doug Hawley.

College Category: “The First Month” by Laura Holliday.

High School Category: “Daydreamer” by Kathryne Garrido.

Best Narrative was awarded to Laura Holliday’s “The First Month.”

Best Documentary was awarded to David Johnson and Sonja Norris for “19 Years: The Story of Dick Rockey, Tom Odom and Valdosta State University Football.”

Best Actress was awarded to Doree Sea from “Cursed World Problems.”

Best Actor was awarded to Davod Moeini Kiya from the film “Limit.”

Best Ensemble Cast was awarded to the cast of “The First Month.”

Best Production Design was awarded to “Limit.”

Best Cinematography was awarded to Dwayne Green for “The Butcher.”

Best Sound Design was awarded to Colin Guthrie for “Western Jubilee.”

Best Editing was awarded to Gabby Fiszman for “Utforska.”

Best Director was awarded to Kathryne Garrido for “Daydreamer.”

The SGFF was a collaboration between the VSU Mass Media Program, community partners and the VSU Film and Video Society, a student organization that educates members on multiple aspects of the film industry and helps them pursue a career in the field.

The festival was supported by Georgia Power and the Georgia Council for the Arts.

For more information, contact Jason Brown at (229) 219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu or visit www.SouthGeorgiaFilm.com to learn more.

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256