Eva's short film didn't just pass; it scored high marks from Rosen immediately before being passed along to the other judges.
Eventually, the committee gathered to deliberate. They had to decide which of the high-scoring submissions would make the final cut for the competition.
Naturally, the top contenders all had a high degree of polish.
But the one that grabbed everyone's attention was, without a doubt, Eva's Kingdom of Angels.
The judges weren't necessarily shocked by the long take itself. These were veterans of the Irish Film Institute; a five-minute continuous shot wasn't going to make them faint.
What shocked them was the director.
An eighteen-year-old freshman from the film school. Zero prior experience. No portfolio.
How did she pull this off?
"I think Kingdom of Angels is a lock for the finals. Is there any objection?"
"None here. When Rosen showed it to me, I knew it was exceptional."
"And after seeing her resume? It's even more intriguing."
"She's a promising talent. I vote for her inclusion."
After a round of discussion, Eva's film was officially selected as a finalist along with several other outstanding entries.
All finalist films were uploaded to the Irish Film Institute's official website for public viewing.
The final winners—including the Grand Prize—would be determined by a voting panel of industry professionals and announced at the upcoming awards gala.
The films went live quickly, though the directors' names were temporarily hidden to ensure fairness.
The Irish film industry paid close attention to this competition. The winner was usually the "Rookie of the Year," a talent with limitless potential. Many production companies had contracts ready, just waiting to snap up the next big thing.
When the films dropped, the industry was pleasantly surprised. The quality this year was high.
There was a rigorous, thirty-minute documentary. A dark, twenty-minute narrative film rich with subtext. A ten-minute visual spectacle that was pure technique.
But a five-minute short? That was a first.
Five minutes was usually considered too short to tell a meaningful story.
So, at first, Kingdom of Angels didn't get many clicks.
But people figured there had to be a reason a five-minute clip made the finals.
So, they clicked play. And then, they stared at their screens in disbelief.
It was a five-minute super long take. A perfect execution of the "one-shot" technique.
The color grading, the camera movement, the texture—it was masterful.
Comments from casual viewers and industry insiders alike began to flood the section below the video.
"I thought the thirty-minute documentary was the frontrunner, but this five-minute clip got my pulse racing."
"This director is incredibly talented."
The film caused a sensation. The view count skyrocketed.
Usually, rookies played it safe. No beginner had the guts to attempt a one-take musical for a competition.
And yet, the execution was flawless. You had to respect it.
Soon, Eva's short was being mentioned in media reports about the competition. Every article covering the event made sure to mention the "most stunning entry."
"A perfect long take."
"Colors that pop off the screen."
"It's a shame the names are hidden; we'd love to interview the creator."
Of course, whether Eva would actually win remained to be seen. The competition was fierce, and the other finalists had strong, distinct styles that were hard to compare directly.
But while the internet buzzed, Eva remained a painfully ordinary college student.
She went to class during the day and worked part-time at night. Day in, day out.
She did, however, make time every day to call her mother back in County Laois.
Eva had grown up in a single-parent home. In her memories, it was just her and her mother. Her mom never spoke of her father, and Eva never asked.
She knew that behind every woman's silence about a past relationship lay a tragedy she didn't want the world to see.
The original Eva hadn't understood this. She felt her mother's secrecy was a sign of disrespect.
But the new Eva understood. It wasn't disrespect; it was shame. Her mother felt pathetic and feared being looked down upon.
Her mother was also constantly worried that Eva would be hurt by men. Every phone call included a warning about emotional scammers.
Eva always reassured her. "Mom, you're overthinking it. I have zero interest in romance. I have zero interest in men, period."
Granted, that phrasing often led to misunderstandings about her orientation.
Back at school, the buzz about the short film competition was inescapable. This was the directing department, after all.
"Hey, have you guys been following the short film contest?"
"Yeah! That five-minute one-take is insane!"
"God, it's magical. I've watched it over and over. There's so much to learn from it."
"Exactly. The camera movement, the color grading, the way they turned a simple scene into art... it's the best thing I've seen all year."
Listening to them discuss her work made Eva happy. It was validation.
However, the students' theories about the director were wildly off base.
"It has to be a hidden master."
"Maybe a veteran director who retired to the mountains and is making a comeback?"
"Or a failed industry pro trying to restart their career under a pseudonym."
No one guessed it was a student. And certainly no one guessed it was Eva.
But they would find out soon enough. The awards ceremony was approaching.
---
Before the ceremony, Rosen had one final task as a judge.
He needed to interview the people around the finalists. This was partly to verify that the work was indeed their own, and partly to get a deeper understanding of the candidates.
Rosen started by visiting the professors at Eva's film school. He didn't reveal that she was a finalist; he just asked for their general impressions.
To his surprise, the feedback was universally negative.
"Eva Codi? I can only describe her as a disaster."
"I hardly ever see her. She skips class constantly. I doubt she'll even graduate."
"She has average talent at best. I doubt she'd participate in any competitions. I question her ability to even hold a camera."
"Her grades are consistently at the bottom of the class."
The teachers clearly disliked her and had zero faith in her potential.
Rosen was baffled. This was the girl who shot Kingdom of Angels? And her teachers claimed she was untalented and failing?
It was bizarre.
Next, Rosen visited the production studio and the actors Eva had hired.
The response there was the complete opposite.
They believed Eva was professional, incredibly skilled, and brilliant.
"That girl? She's a monster."
"She's terrifyingly good."
"I admire her. She's focused and dedicated."
"I can testify that she directed every second of that film herself."
They gave her the highest possible praise for her skill and professionalism, confirming beyond a doubt that the work was hers.
Rosen scratched his head, completely lost.
How could one girl generate two such extreme reputations?
To the school, a failure. To the industry, a prodigy.
This girl... Rosen mused.
The more he dug, the more he felt it.
She is absolutely fascinating.