Slug 48 Celebrates Its Second Outstanding Year with Film industry Greats Harry Chotiner, Kevin Nolting and Ron Yerxa


alumni and students standing together

Film and Digital Media recently wrapped its second annual Slug 48 48-hour film competition, founded in 2024 by UCSC alumnus and renowned Pixar editor Kevin Nolting. At 5 p.m. on April 25–27, 12 teams of students received a line of a dialogue and a prop that had to appear in their films, and then the clock began ticking. They uploaded their finished films by 5 p.m. on April 27, and then a panel of celebrity judges, led by Nolting, selected the winners. On April 30, UCSC alum Harry Chotiner announced a generous gift in the name of his friend, Hollywood producer Ron Yerxa, and the two filmmakers held a lively on-stage conversation at the Slug 48 Awards Night. Yerxa presented the first-ever Ron Yerxa Award for Best Film ($500) and other awards, including a Kevin Nolting Award for Best Editing ($350), a Best Use of Dialogue award ($250), and an audience award followed. Everyone is looking forward to next year!

Last modified: Jul 07, 2025