The founders' goal was to create a venue, run entirely by students, to showcase the efforts of fellow student filmmakers.
The awards attract student filmmakers, educational films, and even professional industry practitioners.
Since 1981, a separate award has been given annually to a student filmmaker from outside the United States.
But it did seem that the days when student filmmakers complained bitterly of having to use video cameras on their first-year projects were gone.
Rudransh Mathur (born 12-03-1990) is a student filmmaker and a visual communication designer.
The camera was built to the most precise standards in the industry, and is still popular with student filmmakers.
The Foundation also provides internship opportunities for young student filmmakers.
As a student filmmaker she was familiar with the 24 frames per second in a movie film - hence the 24 slide projectors.
It is the only conference in the world designed to bring together student filmmakers and student composers for discussion.
The film composition program has grown to include collaborations with student filmmakers.