Filmustage Sponsors Inaugural Monarch Film Festival at Mater Dei High School

Filmustage, a film production platform, backed the first-ever Monarch Film Festival at Mater Dei High School — a student showcase spanning four class levels in which 77 participants wrote, produced, edited, and premiered nine original short films. As part of its sponsorship, Filmustage presented the Best Screenplay Award at the Honors level, along with a complimentary one-year platform subscription, to senior Ty Bragalone, who developed a 15-minute screenplay in just a few weeks.

The festival was co-founded by Andrew Roberts, Director of Film and Media at Mater Dei and a Filmustage Ambassador with over 30 years in the entertainment industry, alongside colleague Kenny Connolly. Additional support came from the New York Film Academy, which awarded $50,000 in scholarships. Organizers say the event is already expanding, with plans for more films, broader school partnerships, and deeper sponsor collaboration in future editions.