Video artist Aïda Ruilova (MFA 1999 Photography and Related Media) has made the shortlist for the Guggenheim Museum’s Hugo Boss Prize. The $50,000 award is given biannually to an artist whose work represents a noteworthy development in contemporary art. Ruilova, who is best known for Gothic-influenced video installations, is one of six finalists for this prestigious award. She currently has Countdowns on display on the Times Square Astrovision screen, courtesy of Creative Time, December 20, 2005 – March 6, 2006.

In other prize news, online retailer Amazon.com and the Tribeca Film Festival recently sponsored a nationwide short-film competition, looking for unique movies under seven minutes long. The winner, announced last week, is Jack Paccione, Jr. (BFA 1996 Illustration), whose “Ping-Pong thriller” Duel at the Red Table took top honors. Paccione’s film was selected from among more than 300 entries; five finalists had their films posted on Amazon’s Web site, where customers voted for their favorite. Duel received the most votes, earning Paccione a $50,000 prize, which he plans to use to bankroll a full-length film entitled Worst Movie Ever. To view Paccione’s winning film, go to the competition’s home page.