Young Film Editor from Pune Makes Waves at Yugo BAFTA Awards in Los Angeles
Pune, 27th June 2024: Aaron Dsouza, a 23-year-old from Pune, navigated the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and successfully secured admission to the prestigious American Film Institute in Los Angeles, renowned for its stringent acceptance standards. He completed his Master’s in Fine Arts (Film Editing) and is now a Fellow at the esteemed AFI Conservatory.
Aaron’s project, “Caroline,” has achieved recognition at the 2024 Yugo BAFTA Student Awards, marking a significant milestone in his career. This short film, directed and co-written by Jack Highberger, explores the journey of a young auto mechanic grappling with unexpected loss and the poignant tasks that follow, culminating in a profound confrontation with his past.
The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) received over 800 submissions from 109 schools across 37 countries for the 2024 Yugo BAFTA Student Awards. Out of these, 79 projects, including “Caroline,” were longlisted.
Reflecting on his journey, Aaron shared, “Jack Highberger and I dedicated ourselves to refining ‘Caroline’ post-production. This intense collaboration, which included the entire crew joining us in the editing room, fostered creativity and accelerated our workflow.”
Aaron’s passion for filmmaking began in Pune, nurtured by his mother’s love for theatre and their shared discussions on filmmaking techniques. Inspired by filmmakers like Christopher Nolan and Lee Smith, Aaron immersed himself in analyzing films like “Interstellar,” “Dunkirk,” and “1917,” which fueled his aspiration to excel in film editing.
Currently based in Los Angeles, Aaron is actively engaged in multiple film editing projects, furthering his journey in the world of cinema.
