Reel Works student wins F. John Outcalt Award; film featured on ABCNews

On October, 10, 2012 at The Reel Works Annual Gala, held at The Edison Ballroom, Emily Batista, 18 was awarded the F. John Outcalt Award for Outstanding Filmmaking.Her film, My Skin is a story about being born with a rare skin disorder that caused her to grow up experiencing bullying, shame and profound depression. Surrounded by love from her family, and friends she has been able to turn that pain into strength- as she shares with us what it's like to live in her own skin.The F. John Outcalt Award, given each year to a Reel Works filmmaker by his or her peers, recognizes work that exemplifies our core values of personal, passionate storytelling, community engagement and artistic achievement.  This award is named in loving memory of Forman John Outcalt, a film and theatre director and producer and, for over eighteen years, the adored partner of Andrew R. Rosenthal.Today, Emily is a freshman at Kingsborough Community College and a member of the Incontinentia Pigmenti International Foundation.  Along with IPIF's founder, Suzanne Emmerich and J. Crew's Creative Director, Jenna Lyons, Emily raises awareness of IP in a story on ABCNews.com : http://abcnews.go.com/Health/jcrews-jenna-lyons-emerges-inauguration-skin-disorder-swan/story?id=18288024Emily's film, My Skin, premiered in the Fall of 2012 on NYC's own Reel Works with Avan Jogia, available on NYC life in the New York tri-state area on broadcast, cable and satellite TV.  It is also available to watch online on the NYC Media Video on Demand player -  nyc.gov/vod and through the NYC Media app, available to download for free from iTunes. New episodes will be added each week.  The series is sponsored by Vivendi.