Over the past three years, we have been lucky enough to be selected by and attend a variety of student and professional film festivals across the country. These festivals have granted us amazing experiences, connections, and the privilege to watch our work on the BIG SCREEN!

Early Success

The very first Film Festival the not yet named “Sharpened Wits” duo ever attended. Just three months after creating their first short film with “Shreds of Evidence”, the pair made their way to the Ramapo College of New Jersey’s High School Film Festival. Watching ‘Shreds’ on the Big Screen alongside an audience was an experience like no other, and one that reinforced to both Caroline and Michael that this is truly what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives.

Amazingly, even though their performance was done fully-masked during COVID-times, Caroline Sheridan was able to walk away with RCNJ’s Best Actor award, laying the foundation for Sharpened Wits’ future festivals.

Festival Stats:

  • Jury's Stellar Award at NJ Young Filmmakers' Fest (2023)

  • Comedy Grand Prize at Montclair Emerging Filmmaker Comp. (2023)

  • Best Actor at RCNJ HS Film Fest (2023)

  • Best HS Film at Round Reel International Film Fest (2023)

  • Best NJ HS Film at Princeton Film Fest (2024)

  • Best Writing at Count Basie Center Breakthrough Film Fest (2024)

  • Best Direction at Count Basie Center Breakthrough Film Fest (2024)

  • Best Student Film at NJ Mystery & Crime Film Fest (2024)

  • Special Jury Prize at Montclair Emerging Filmmaker Comp. (2024)

  • Jury’s Citation Award at NJ Young Filmmakers’ Fest (2024)

  • Overall Grand Prize at Montclair Emerging Filmmaker Comp. (2024)

  • Comedy Grand Prize at Montclair Emerging Filmmaker Comp. (2024)

  • Jury’s Stellar Award at NJ Young Filmmakers’ Fest (2024)

  • Best HS Film at Round Reel International Film Fest (2025)

  • Best HS Writing at Count Basie Breakthrough Film Festival (2025)

  • Best HS Sound Design at Count Basie Breakthrough Film Festival (2025)

  • Best High School Comedy at Garden State Film Festival (2025)

WINs

  • Best Editing at Count Basie Center Breakthrough Film Fest (2024)

  • Best Acting Ensemble at Count Basie Center Breakthrough Film Fest (2024)

  • Best Writing at Count Basie Center Breakthrough Film Fest (2024) for “First Date”

  • Emerging Filmmaker Award at All-American HS Film Fest (2024)

  • IndieX Film Fest Los Angeles Semi-Finalist (2025)

  • LA Underground Film Forum Best Micro Short (2025)

  • Best High School Cinematography at Count Basie Breakthrough Film Festival (2025)

  • Best High School Director at Count Basie Breakthrough Film Festival (2025)

  • Best High School Short Film at Count Basie Breakthrough Film Festival (2025)

NOMINATIONs

  • Ridgewood Guild International Film Fest (2023)

  • All-American HS Film Fest (2023, for two films)

  • International HS Film & Screenwriting Contest (2024, for two scripts)

  • Montclair Emerging Screenwriter Competition (2024, for two scripts)

  • Garden State Film Fest (2024)

  • Ridgewood Guild International Film Fest (2024)

  • Rutherford Film Fest (2024)

  • Horrific Women Film Fest (2024)

  • All-American HS Film Fest (2024, for two films)

  • LA Underground FIlm Forum Honorable Mention (2025)

  • Melrose Hill Short Film Festival (2025)

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