Media Arts grad wins national cinematography award

Sheridan Media Arts alumnus, Diego Guijarro Alvarez has won the Student Cinematography Award from the Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC).  His film, House of Glory received the award at a gala presentation on April 2 in Toronto.

Alvarez is one of three 2015 alumni who were nominated for work they completed in their final year of study at Sheridan. Keenan Lynch (Media Arts) was recognized for Homefront, and Cameron Anderson (Advanced Television and Film) was nominated for Visitor.  

Sheridan received all three nominations from across Canada in the Student Cinematography category, the first time in the 59-year history of the CSC.

A fourth Sheridan alumnus, Glen Keenan, was nominated in the TV Drama Cinematography category for Lucifer (pilot). The 1991 Media Arts graduate is a CSC past winner and nominee known for his work on the television series Sleepy Hollow and Nikita.

Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Alvarez moved to Toronto at the age of 19 to learn English. After deciding to stay in Canada, Alvarez entered Sheridan’s Media Arts program where he developed a passion for cinematography.

According to Alvarez, much credit for the CSC award should be directed to his former Media Arts classmates, Blake Hannahson and Daniel Vaccaro, with whom he collaborated on House of Glory. “We took some risks every step of the way. I wanted to try techniques that I had never used before and create a look where the colour palette played a big role.”

Alvarez was thrilled to share his nomination with other Sheridan alumni, particularly Keenan Lynch. “I had a chance to work on Keenan’s amazing film Homefront, so the joy was double. I think the strength and organization of Sheridan’s Media Arts program was another reason we dominated the category.”

Sheridan has been a leader in film and television education for over thirty years.  The Media Arts program was replaced in 2014 by the Bachelor of Film and Television, a four-year degree that combines hands-on experience with theoretical learning in all aspects of the industry.

To watch the House of Glory trailer, click here

Photo:  

Diego Guijarro Alvarez, right, winner of the 2016 Student Cinematography Award from the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, with fellow 2015 Media Arts graduate and nominee, Keenan Lynch, left.