News Post

A short film written by St. Joseph’s Academy freshman Hadley Rinaudo finished in the top five in the Prize Fest film festival, held September 3-October 2 in Shreveport. Bamboo House, which she also starred in, was chosen from 100 submissions to be part of the Louisiana film festival. The film chronicles Hadley’s relationship with her grandfather and the experience of his death. 

The film received the Founders Circle Award from festival judges, and Rinaudo was nominated for Best Actress honors. 

“I feel very satisfied with the outcome of finishing in the top five,” Rinaudo said. “From what I was told, making top five is very difficult, so it was a true honor that the judges and the people who voted felt that Bamboo House deserved to be there. To be nominated for best actress gave me a feeling of great joy, and I felt very honored.”

Rinaudo originally wrote a monologue about her grandfather’s death in 2020. The overwhelming response on social media prompted her acting teacher to suggest turning the piece into a short film. “We got a crew together and filmed it at my grandparents’ house,” Rinaudo said. “Once the film was done and edited, we submitted it to the Prize Fest.”

Bamboo House was selected as one of 20 films to advance to the Film Prize 2021 stage of the Prize Fest competition, ultimately placing in the top five. “This film is relatable to people of all ages because we have all lost someone we love,” Rinaudo said. “I hope people take away the message of spending the most time with their loved ones.”

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director

Photos courtesy of Hadley Rinaudo