Kids & Family

Islander Wins Awards at Cordoba, Spain International Film Festival

Leeran Raphaely won two Jerry Goldsmith Awards for Best Score in Animated Short Film and Best Song for the animated short "En Passant" on June 26

After wowing local audiences with his musical talent for years, Islander Leeran Raphaely won international acclaim and awards last month for a film score he composed.

A 2009 graduate of Mercer Island High School, Raphaely won two Jerry Goldsmith Awards, one for Best Score in Animated Short Film and one for Best Song, for the animated short film "En Passant" at the International Film Music Festival in Cordoba, Spain on June 26.

The 15-minute film is directed by Chris Burton, and features the singers Kaela Kahn, Scott Ward Abernethy, and Daniel Cords, as well as the voice acting of Mr. Abernethy, Scott C. Brown, and Shelly Shenoy.Β 

Raphaely said the film project was started in 2011 on a shoestring budget and nearly all collaboration for the film was done online β€” with cast and crew participating from Malaysia, South Africa, London, Boston, New York and Seattle. He never met his principal co-collaborator on the film, Chris Burton, until the film's official premier in London in January 2013.

The film was released on July 1 and can be seen in its entirety on YouTube.

Islander Mikaela Kahn also sings the part of Leilah, one of the principal characters.

Other MIHS musicians are also featured, including: Flute: Lauren Asimakoupoulos; Clarinet: Audrey Miller: Bass Clarinet: Jacob Bloom; Violins / Solo violin: Julia Chalker; Contrabass: Zack Hartmann; Guitar: Ben Fang, and Bass: Zack Hartmann.



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