STEUBENVILLE, OH—Franciscan University of Steubenville graduate Brian Robau will be honored with an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Student Academy Award for his 2018 short film, Esta Es Tu Cuba.

This nomination will be Robau’s second time on the student Oscar stage, following his reception of the Silver Medal in 2016 for his short film, It’s Just a Gun. He is one of 15 winners out of the 1,582 entries in seven categories for this year’s coveted awards.

Inspired by Operation Pedro Pan, Esta Es Tu Cuba is a short film depicting Cuba’s shift to communism through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy and the mass exodus of over 14,000 unaccompanied minors from 1960’s Cuba.

Robau, one of three winners in the narrative category, will be awarded either gold, silver, or bronze. The narrative category includes works of drama, comedy, or other forms of storytelling that showcase the artistry of the director.

Robau will join the other student winners for an awards reception on Thursday, October 11, at 7:30 p.m., at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.  The medal placements will be announced at the ceremony.

Robau graduated from Franciscan University in 2014 with a BA in communication arts, with concentrations in multimedia and radio/TV and minors in theology and film studies. He is currently enrolled in Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

While at Franciscan, he served as co-president of the Franciscan Film Club and was a finalist in the highly competitive Serbin Communications 32nd Annual Best of College Photography Competition.