lystn

AAHSFF '13 Alum Emily Cohn was part of our very first festival, all the way back in 2013, and she was a big part of helping us affirm our belief that the future of film was bright and that talented young filmmakers needed our support and recognition. Emily’s early films were full of strong and engaging female characters, navigating complicated relationships and coming of age in a world rife with uncertainty. Her film, “Pierced” (winner of our first Best Drama Award) explored the complex dynamic between two friends going in very different directions - the fantastic screenplay and overall production offer a window into a real and relatable world - one filled with both darkness and light. It was clear from Emily’s earliest work that she had the rare gift of marrying passion with talent, vision with creation - and based on her continued efforts and success - it is clear that her fire for filmmaking burns as bright as ever…