A dynamic creative partnership formed at Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts is earning national and international recognition. Recent graduates Max Losson and Zolomon Zelko have collaborated on two standout films, with their latest capstone film, “Photo Play XX,” positioning them as promising new voices in the cinematic arts.
Losson’s cinematography has earned him a nomination for the 2025 ASC Student Heritage Award, presented by the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) — one of the most prestigious honors for emerging cinematographers. “Photo Play XX” was also nominated for a Student Academy Award, recognizing the film’s direction and overall production.
Now, Losson and Zelko are headed back to Poland for a second consecutive year as the film enters competition for the Golden Frog in the Student Etudes Competition at the EnergaCamerimage Festival, one of the world’s premier cinematography competitions.
“The FSU College of Motion Picture Arts gave me the space and guidance to take creative risks with the visual language of the film,” Losson said. “Any recognition we’ve received is really a celebration of the people who pushed us to tell such an important story with honesty and heart, and to stay true to how we imagined it on screen.”
The ASC nomination is especially meaningful for FSU, as Losson was recognized for the George Spiro Dibie ASC Undergraduate Award. The ASC jury, which includes two FSU alumni, judged submissions blindly.
“The ASC is the premier professional organization for cinematography,” said Keith Slade, FSU cinematography professor and mentor to the duo. “It’s a huge honor for these filmmakers, and we’re super excited. This is the second film these two have made together that’s generating serious attention. It’s a testament to the creative trust we’ve built and the support we’ve had from our peers and faculty.”
The production model at the FSU film school emphasizes collaboration across cohorts, with underclassmen supporting upperclassmen on capstone projects. Faculty members also play a key role in mentoring students through the creative process.
“Max’s work exemplifies the creative rigor and visual storytelling we champion at FSU,” said cinematography faculty member George Reasner. “These awards are a testament to his talent, discipline and the collaborative spirit of our program.”
Reasner, who recently joined the faculty full-time, has mentored students for more than a decade. He noted that FSU has had three ASC finalists and one winner in the past eight years, with Losson now the fourth finalist.
“Our program is small but mighty,” Reasner said. “Filmmaking is a team sport, and we operate on a level playing field. Every student has the same equipment, the same budget, and the same opportunity to succeed.”
“Photo Play XX” was shot on Florida’s Forgotten Coast, which served as a symbolic setting for the story.
“The Forgotten Coast is a character in the film,” Zelko said. “It stands in for purgatory and the underworld, and we wanted to photograph it in a way that evoked the right feeling. It’s a place we love, and it shaped the film’s look.”
Zelko wrote, directed and composed the score, while Losson served as cinematographer, shaping the film’s haunting visual language, all while leading a crew of fellow students.
“We shot the film for six days in December, in probably the coldest time possible,” Losson said. “It was a beach movie, so we were out on the water for a couple of days. It was very cold and very fiery, but we all bonded together. Every single person on our crew was a student. To be recognized alongside films with massive budgets and professional crews is a testament to what we’re doing at FSU.”
For more information about the College of Motion Picture Arts and its programs, visit film.fsu.edu.
