The Directors of the Sacramento Film and Music Festival have named the recipient of the Festival’s first Film Arts Service Award: Shawn Sullivan, for inspiring the next generation.

Shawn Sullivan teaches animation at Sheldon High School in Elk Grove and, while his classroom may be hidden to most of the world, his achievements are being heralded in the press, by college educators, and by students who have been through those doors. Using acceptance to the prestigious character animation department at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) as a benchmark , Sullivan is coaching exactly the kind of talent that the industry is seeking. Statistically, Sullivan’s classroom alumni should show up at CalArts less often than a blue moon, albeit perhaps a singing and dancing blue moon with a twinkle in its eye. However, Sullivan’s alums perform sufficiently well in their applications that, during this Fall semester, he will have 6 students co-enrolled, representing almost 5% of the student body in that highly selective program. Frank Terry, the outgoing program director at CalArts was quoted in SacTown Magazine (June/July, 2007) as saying “It’s exceptional, absolutely.” The Sacramento Film and Music Festival recognizes Sullivan’s “exceptional” contribution to his students’ success, to the industry and to the art form.

Back to Film

Back to Schedule