Oliver Hoblitzelle '16 Takes Home Cinema Prize

Ski film finds success at IF3
by Chris Marks
Head Coach of the Freeski Team & Learning Skills Executive Function Coach

Last weekend, Oliver Hoblitzelle '16 was flown out by his parents to Montreal from Park City, where he now resides, so that he could acknowledge the honor of his film having been accepted into IF3 2017, the 2017 International Freeskiing Film Festival. Only days before the festival, Oliver was notified via email that his film, Roasted, had been nominated for Amateur Film of the Year in the Ski category. Both he and his parents contacted me, ecstatic that he had been considered for such recognition.

Oliver suffered a traumatic brain injury while skiing in eighth grade, an event that changed the course of his life with regards to skiing and education. Not able to sustain another such injury, he was forever barred by doctors from the type of skiing he had pursued avidly to that point in his life; the only way he could stay close to the culture and community he had grown to love was as a filmer and film editor.

His academic world also changed--as a result of his injury, his memory had been profoundly affected. The 4.0 GPA he ultimately graduated with from VA would have to be earned through countless hours of studying beyond what is considered normal. As a sophomore, Oliver identified through his MAPS goals that he would like to pursue his filming career in greater depth than he was able to at the time. We envisioned an independent study/internship program in Park City that would eventually turn into a reality for him for his two remaining winters at VA.

The Results Come In

While enjoying some pizza with my Mountain Bike team last Saturday night in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, following Championships, I got a text from Elise Hoblitzelle, Oliver's mom: "He Freaking WON!" (Sorry, Elise...!) To all of our surprise--Oliver's, his parents', and mine--he won the award for Amateur Film of the Year in the Ski category. Beating out talent from Finland, France, Canada, and across the U.S., Roasted stood out to the judges for its artistic merits, filming, editing, originality, style, and caliber of skiing. Oliver will be in Park City once again this winter, having deferred his acceptance to Champlain College for a possible film major.

Watch the trailer for Roasted:

Roasted Trailer PG version from Oliver Hoblitzelle on Vimeo.

Watch the complete film, now available for free online (contains language):

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Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.