The strength of this year's finalist screenplays for the annual $100,000 Columbus / Vague Production Grant has led to a surprise result, with three different projects by NYU Grad Film alumni receiving funding.
After lengthy deliberation, sponsors Chris Columbus and Richard Vague both donated an additional $25,000, allowing them to give $50,000 each to support three films: Andrew Maclean's 'On The Ice' (based on his Sundance-winning thesis short 'Sikumi'); Dee Rees' 'Pariah' (also based on her thesis); and Rob Meyer's 'A Birder's Guide to Everything', co-written with current Grad Film student Luke Matheny.
Other finalists included Jeff Seymann, Sasie Sealy, Sen-I Yu, Sharri Hefner, Janet McIntyre and Ming Ling Chen.
