Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has selected 29 students from 17 colleges and universities as finalists in its 31st annual Student Academy Awards competition. A third of the finalists will compete in the Animation category. Gold, silver and bronze medals, along with accompanying cash prizes of $5000, $3000 and $2000, may be awarded in each of the four categories. Winning filmmakers will participate in a week of industry-related and social activities, culminating in the presentation ceremony on June 13, 2004.

The animation finalists are:

THE BOX MAN, Nirvan Mullick, California Institute of the Arts
CATS, Chris Choy, California Institute of the Arts
CRIMENALS, Gregory Araya, University of Southern California
FRAGILE, David Cumbo, Art Institute of Pittsburgh
GOING UP? Marci Ellis, Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota, Florida
LEMMINGS, Craig Van Dyke, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
REX STEELE: NAZI SMASHER, Alexander Woo, New York University
ROCK THE WORLD, Sukwon Shin, School of Visual Arts, New York City
SON OF SATAN, JJ Villard, California Institute of the Arts
TRICKS FOR A TREAT, Jeff Mednikow, School of Visual Arts, New York City

To reach this stage, students competed in one of three regional competitions. Each of those regions was permitted to send to the Academy up to three finalist films in each of the four categories. An honorary foreign film student will also be honored by the Academy.

The Student Academy Awards were established by the Academy in 1972 to support and encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level. To see a list of the rest of the finalist, go to www.oscars.org.