Liberal Arts and Science Academy Senior Alina Vega was named jury winner in the 2013 SXSW Film Festival’s High School Short Film showcase Tuesday, March 12.  

Vega’s movie, “The Benefactress,” is about how the seamstress in a high school theatre company struggles through the run of a show, pushing through even as her life starts to collapse around her.

Vega is a film student in LASA Teacher Vanessa Mokry's Audio Visual Production practicum class. 

Vega is no stranger to the SXSW high school short film competition. During last year’s competition, she wrote the screenplay and acted in a short that was accepted into the 2012 festival. Beyond acting and directing, Vega is also an accomplished vocalist. She stared earlier this year as Christine in the LBJ/LASA Alley Cat Players’ production of “Phantom of the Opera.”

"I am constantly amazed by how accomplished Alina is," said LASA High School Principal Stacia Crescenzi. "She is passionate about and dedicated to everything she does. Whether on stage, behind the camera or in one of her many AP classes, you can always count on Alina to give you 110 percent effort. We are all very proud of her."

After graduation, Vega plans to attend college to study acting and film production.

The Benefactress from LASA Film on Vimeo.