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Desert Mountain High School alumnus Timur Guseynov has been nominated for the Television Academy Foundation’s 44th College Television Awards.
The annual awards show recognizes and rewards excellence in student-produced programs from colleges across the country, according to a press release.
Winners in the competition will be announced by television stars at the red carpet awards ceremony on April 5, at the Television Academy in north Hollywood, the release states.
Mr. Guseynov is nominated, along with two classmates from the University of Southern California, in the drama series category for producing a short film titled, ‘Two Breaths.’
The film tells the story of a man-made disaster that decimates a Pacific island where an 11-year-old native girl is stranded and must find the courage to leave her home behind. A mysterious manta ray named ‘Two Breaths’ helps her escape to safety.
“We chose to tell the story of Two Breaths because it explores universal themes of resilience, the fragile beauty of life and having to leave one’s home, which resonated deeply with me,” Mr. Guseynov said.
“The film connects the protagonist’s internal struggle with the transformative power of nature, creating a poetic and emotionally charged narrative. By focusing on human vulnerability and the strength it takes to embrace change, we aimed to tell a story that inspires reflection and empathy. This project was a labor of love, drawn from personal experiences with a commitment to visual storytelling.”
Mr. Guseynov is a Russian-American filmmaker of Dagestani descent who immigrated to the U.S. Raised in Phoenix, Arizona, he attended Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale. He earned an MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2024 where he received the prestigious Rock Hudson Memorial Scholarship and the Mary Pickford Foundation Award.
His cinematography on a capstone film won the Best Cinematography Award at the United Talent Agency’s First Look Showcase and earned him a nomination for the ASC Student Heritage Award.
“Coming to the U.S. as an immigrant with nothing was a significant challenge,” Mr. Guseynov said.
“I had to learn the language, adapt to a new culture and find a way to stay true to my heritage. Pursuing filmmaking without the safety net of wealth or industry connections felt almost impossible at times, and I often doubted whether I could ever support myself through this path. However, those challenges fueled my determination and taught me the value of resilience and hard work. They shaped my perspective as a storyteller, allowing me to approach my craft with authenticity and passion.”
