AWARDS AND HONORS 

PERSONAL AWARDS
ACHIEVEMENTS IN FILM, ACADEMIC, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 

• Women In Film Award - UCLA
  
• Loreen Arbus Foundation Cinematography Award - UCLA
  
• The Motion Picture Association of America Award - UCLA
  
• The Jennifer Momtazee Award Scholarship - UCLA
  
• The Peter Stark Memorial Scholarship Award - UCLA
  
• Rising Filmmaker Award - Riverside International Film Festival
• Winner for Visionary Women In Film Award - Santa Cruz Film Festival 
• UNICEF Global Citizenship Award
  
• M.I.S.S.S.E.Y. - Wish-list Group Leader Award 
  
• Certificate of Appreciation from Building Futures with Women & Children 
  
• High Honors Achievement Berkley City College 
  
• Certificate of Achievement in Social Action at SLHS & Alameda County of Education 

watch THE FILM

CALIFORNIA'S FORGOTTEN CHILDREN 
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - 2018
A collection of biographical stories of young girls and boys who were commercially sexually exploited in California and are now survivors and courageous leaders fighting for the rights of victims worldwide.

• The United States Senate - Policymakers and congress members in attendance.
• The United State of Women Summit - Same event that Michelle Obama spoke at.
• Winner Best Documentary - Soho International Film Festival
• Winner of Rising Filmmaker Award, Nominated for Best Feature Documentary, Nominated for Audience Choice Award - Riverside International Film Festival
• Winner of Best Director - Chico International Film Festival
• Winner the Orson Welles Award - the California Film Awards
• Winner Best Documentary - Angeles Documentary
• ​Official Selection - San Diego International Film Festival
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary  - Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival
• Official Selection - Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival
• Official Selection ​- Montana International Film Festival
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary  - Oakland International Film Festival
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary  - ​Newport Beach International Film Festival
• Official Selection - ​Chagrin Documentary Film Festival​
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary  - Long Beach Indie International Film Festival
• Nominated for Dolores Huerta Award  - Long Beach Indie International Film Festival
• Official Selection - Awareness Film Festival
• Official Selection - ​Justice for All Film Festival
• Official Selection - Women In Film Mini Upfronts Film Trailer​
• Official Selection - Courage Film Festival (Berlin)
  

Director - Melody C. Miller

ruth weiss, the beat goddess
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - 2019
In a life that has spanned 90 creative years, escaping the Nazis with her family in Vienna ruth weiss became a Jazz troubadour exemplifying the zeitgeist of Chicago, New Orleans, and San Francisco. She has overcome the unimaginable. Known around the world, she continues to this day to perform her poetry. 

• Cinequest Film Festival (California) ruth weiss Won and is honored the Maverick Spirit Award
• Santa Cruz Film Festival (California) - Winner of Visionary Women In Film Award and Nominated for Best Documentary
• Peekskill Film Festival (New York) - Winner of Best Documentary
• Asolo Art Film Festival (Italy) - Nominated for Best Film on Art
• Golden State Film Festival - (California) - Nominated for Best Documentary 
• Sarasota Film Festival (Florida)
• Chicago Underground Film Festival (Illinois) 
• Mendocino Film Festival (California)
• Romford Film Festival (England)
• Black Cat Picture Show (Georgia) - Nominated for Best Documentary
• Cinema on The Bayou Film Festival (Louisiana)​ - Nominated for Best Documentary
• Art Quake Film Festival - (Japan) - Nominated for Best Documentary
• International Arthouse Film Festival (Chicago) Winner of Honorary Mention Award

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​Director - Melody C. Miller

# WHERE IS BEAUTY
NARRATIVE SHORT - 2017
An art noir film of a visual artist struggling with self-identity & beauty standards.

• Winner - Best Cinematography at the Idlewild International Film Festival
• Official Selection - Pan African Film and Arts Festival
• Official Selection - Festival du International Cannes Pan African Film Festival
• Official Selection - Milwaukee Film Festival
• Official Selection - African American Women in Cinema Film Festival
• Official Selection - ​Culver City Film Festival
• Official Selection - ​Canadian Diversity Film Festival
• Official Selection - Global Impact film Festival
• Official Selection - BronzeLense Film Festival

Director - Angela McCrea
​Writer - April May
Producer - Angela White
Cinematographer - Melody C. Miller

CROWNING CHANGE
DOCUMENTARY SHORT - 2018
The story of Erin O'Flaherty's triumphant journey after receiving backlash for being the first openly gay Miss America contestant.

• Official Selection - Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival 
• Official Selection - Los Vegas Film Festival
• Winner Best Short Documentary - Los Angeles Film Awards
• Official Selection - Canadian Independent Film Festival
• Official Selection - ​Student World Awards
• Semi Finalist/Official Selection - Dublin International Film Festival
• ​Official Selection - St.Louis FIlmmaker's Showcase
• Official Selection - Human Rights Campaign Time to Thrive
• Official Selection -Toronto's LGBT Film Festival

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Director - Alexis Kadey
Producer - Candace Robertson
Cinematographer and Editor - Melody C. Miller

WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - 2012
A personal essay and a "road movie" seeking the site of Leon Trotsky's birth and home town, virtually unknown today due to Joseph Stalin's attempt to erase him from Soviet history. It follows the trail to the Golan Heights of Israel where Mikhael Derenkovski, the last survivor of Koloniya Gromokley, tells his story about a town defiled and a family destroyed by the Einsatzgruppen SS. It speculates about politics, virtue, home-towns and the filmmaker's job.

World Premiere - Moscow International Film Festival

• Official Selection - Tel Aviv Film Festival
• Official Selection - ​Mill Valley Film Festival

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Director - Rob Nilsson
​Editor - Melody C. Miller

PERMANENT MARKER
NARRATIVE SHORT - 2009
A first person perspective through the eyes of a domestically abused child.

• 1st Place Best of Show - KCSM Spotlight Film Contest 
  
• 1st Place Best Editing  - KCSM Spotlight Film Contest 
  
• 1st Place Best Script/Story  - KCSM Spotlight Film Contest 
  
• Nominated Best Directing -  KCSM Spotlight Film Contest 
  
• Nominated Best Cinematography  - KCSM Spotlight Film Contest 
  
• Nominated Best Sound Design  - KCSM Spotlight Film Contest
  
• Official Jury Selection in Drama  -  The Delta Moon Student Film Festival
  
• Broadcasted on KCSM
  

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Role: Director, Cinematographer, Editor

TIME TO SAVE THE WOLVES
DOCUMENTARY SHORT - 2010
The journey of Sam, a compassionate veteran who rescues and rehabilitates wolves across the country.

• Audience Award for Best Documentary Short - Riverside Saginaw Film Festival
• 1st Place Best Documentary - The Palo Alto Humane Society Film Contest  
• Honorable Mention Best Documentary - 3C Media Solutions Student Film Festival 
  

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Role: Filmmaker 

SACEY SPA
DOCUMENTARY SHORT - 2010
The story of MISSSEY, a non-profit dedicated to helping victims of child sex trafficking in Oakland.

• 2nd Place  -  The Social Issues Documentary Film Contest 
• Award of Distinction  - ​ the 3C Media Solutions Student Film Festival 
• CNN Broadcasted 1 minuted of SACEY/SPA on National Television - January 14th, 2010.

Role: Filmmaker 

PACIFIC RING SPORTS 
DOCUMENTARY SHORT - 2009
A boxing gym that is changing the lives of people who walk through its doors.

• 1st Place Best PSA/Documentary - Real Movies Film Festival 
• Official Selection - Riverside Saginaw Film Festival

Director - Owen Modesde
Edited & Camera B Operator - Melody C. Miller

A HAT, SOME CHANGE, AND A SHOE
NARRATIVE SHORT - 2010
A Fellini inspired short about the adventures of a little boy on a mission to help a homeless man.

• 1st Place Best Narrative Film - San Leandro Academy of Multimedia  
• Top Finalist Best Narrative Film - The Heartland Film Festival Contest
• Official Selection - Riverside Saginaw Film Festival ​

Role: Filmmaker 

YOU'RE STILL HERE?
NARRATIVE SHORT - 2013
​The Williams family thinks they are the only survivors of the apocalypse. They're wrong.

• ​Opening Night Selection - UCLA Film Festival
• Official Selection - National Film Festival for Talented Youth
• Official Selection - Buzzfeed 

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Director - Matthew Hartman
​Producer - Kathia Aldana Sanchez
Cinematographer -  Melody C. Miller

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​ORCHID SUNDAY
NARRATIVE SHORT - 2013

• Top Finalist -  Alternative Actions Film Festival 
• Official Selection - University of California Los Angeles Film Festival
• Official Selection - University of California Los Angeles Cinematography Film Festival

​Role: Filmmaker

GOAPELE
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT - 2017

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITIONS

• The Emerging Women in Photography Exhibit at the Palm Springs Photo Festival
  

Photographed a photo series empowering young women, representing beauty in it's most raw and natural form. Collaborating with director Angela McCrea who I worked with as Director of Photography on the short film #WhereIsBeauty.

Role: Photographer

​THE HAND THAT CHANGE IT ALL
PHOTOGRAPHY - 2010

• 1st Place San Leandro Creek Watershed Photography Contest 
  

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Role: Photographer

​HOW I SEE IT: MY PLACE THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL (10 photographs)
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT - 2007

• Chabot College Photography Exhibit
• Behind the Scenes San Leandro Photography Exhibit
• Grateful Appreciation for Participation and Contribution Certificate from the California Council ​​

Role: Photographer / Journalist