Allison Koch, a senior majoring in studio art at the College of Charleston, designed and actualized the winning entry for the Charleston International Film Festival's Spire Award trophy. 

The award will be given annually to those who illustrate elevated prowess in the arts of filmmaking and screen writing.  

Koch's submission was chosen in favor of more than a dozen others by the festival's directors. Her prototype won for most effectively epitomizing the nature of the Spire, which in this case alludes to Charleston’s illustrious steeple-speckled skyline. In addition, the Spire phsyically points to the stars, symbolizing the effort and talent of the festival's winning filmmakers. 

Koch, who will be awarded a $500 cash prize in recognition of her victory, said that art deco movie theatre architecture acted as a primary influence during her designing process, but also added that her finished product turned out significantly differently than she had originally envisioned.

“The geometric, streamlined look seemed to suit the award...The initial form I had in mind is not at all what I felt worked best in the end.”

The award will be recreated as a glass piece and awarded for the first time during the sixth annual Charleston International Film Festival, which begins on Wednesday, April 24 and runs through Sunday, April 28. Festival passes can be purchased by clicking here.