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Giacomo, 16, has earned several accolades and laurel leaves this past year through her talent for filmmaking, most notably “Best of the Fest” at the Chicago International Film Festival and first place at both the Chicago CineYouth Film Festival and the Delta Moon Student Film Festival in Walnut Creek, Calif.
When asked why she is so passionate about film-making, she says it's because she loves to tell stories - and has since she was 8.
"Everybody has a story, but only a few of us chose to share them," Giacomo said, "Sometimes its hard to see many of the problems in our world when they are too close to us. If you can step back or put it in a futuristic setting, they're easier to see. People will realize, 'Maybe I do that too,' or 'Maybe that's something I can change.' It gives them a different perspective."
Her most successful film is a documentary about sustainable farming in the Greenwich area called "From Farm To Table."
"It's meant to be a larger call to action, to let people know we can do this in our own communities - around the world and locally," she said, "It showcases different farmers in the area talking about why sustainability is important."
Giacomo decided to make the film because of the rising interest in environmental awareness and whole foods.
"(Sustainability) is a rising topic this year, people are moving away from processed food shipped overseas and more toward local, organic food," she said.
She recently finished a piece for International Day Of The Girl, which promotes girls helping girls in "three vignettes meant to inspire happiness."
She is also working on mockumentary - or a farcical, fake documentary.
Giacomo plans to pursue filmmaking in college, though she has already taken some classes, and hopes to attend New York University or Emerson.
When she isn't making films, she enjoys running cross country, acting in school musicals and playing the drums.
She attends Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, where she is a junior.
Giacomo was previously a student ballet dancer with School of American Ballet and has appeared with the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in more than 200 performances.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, at 3:00 p.m., Giacomo will be at the Larchmont Village Center located in the Larchmont Public Library, where she will present clips from her films in a program that is aimed at inspiring the possibility of filmmaking in other teens. The library is located at 121 Larchmont Ave.
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