(Pittsburgh, PA) —The 2006 Pittsburgh Filmmakers First Works Grants have been announced. For nearly 20 years small cash grants have been awarded to students and artist members who show promise. It was designed for beginning film and video makers to create a polished first work, which could then be used as a sample work to secure additional funding. This year nine grants were awarded, totaling $4800.

The winners are:
Matthew Bulleri, student (LaRoche College)
Shea Bordo, independent student
Jessica Coen, member (Point Park graduate)
Matt Cummings, student (Point Park University)
Melissa Downes, student (Point Park University)
Sean Eisele, student (University of Pittsburgh)
Andrew Keleman, student (University of Pittsburgh)
Thomas Oliver, student (Carnegie Mellon University)
Joshua Tonies, member
Judges this year were Thomas Poole and Sharmila Venkatasubban. Poole is Executive Director of the Public Access television station in the city, Pittsburgh Community Television. Venkatasubban is Assistant Curator for SPACE, an art gallery in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. Applicants were judged on artistic promise based on an evaluation of the submitted sample works and the proposed projects.
The program is funded by Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, Point Park University and Pittsburgh Filmmakers.