Duke Senior Wins Prestigious Pristo Filmmaking Award
Kulsoom Rizavi, a Duke University senior with a double major in Computer Science and Political Science, along with a minor in Cinematic Arts, received the prestigious Robert E. Pristo Filmmaking Award in 2024. The award, given by Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, supports filmmaking projects, with the current cycle open until November 25, 2025.
The Pristo Award, established in 2020, covers various expenses such as hiring actors, securing locations, equipment rentals, production design, and post-production costs. It encourages students to take risks and experiment with their ideas, leading to a diverse range of genres like narrative films, documentaries, and installation pieces. Although open to juniors, most applicants are seniors, benefiting from faculty guidance during capstone-thesis projects. The application process involves submitting a well-developed grant proposal, exposing students to real-world funding processes. Rizavi used the award to document the death of a glacier, showcasing the award's impact on unique and impactful projects.
The Pristo Award has been a significant source of funding and recognition for Duke's Cinematic Arts students since its inception. However, its future remains uncertain as the current funding cycle comes to an end, leaving the program's continuation in doubt.
