Announced earlier today, a total of 569 entries from 30 countries across the globe are in competition for the 2012 Student Academy Awards, now in its 39th year.

You can check out the complete list of schools and countries represented in the competition HERE; but I'll say that in scanning it, I noticed heavy representation from schools in the US as you'd expect, especially in the states of New York and California.

And in terms of African Diasporic representation, also as you'd expect, it's low if going strictly by country. But there are black people everywhere so, I'm sure there's some representation in these 569 entries.

The competition will culminate in the awards presentation that will be held on Saturday, June 9, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The presentation will include screenings of the winning films, with Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal awards and corresponding cash prizes may given in each of five categories: Alternative, Animation, Documentary, Narrative and Foreign Student Film.

So really, of those 569 entries, only 15 will walk away in glory.

Past Student Academy Award winners have gone on to receive 46 Oscar nominations and have won or shared eight awards. 

The 39th Annual Student Academy Awards ceremony on June 9 is free and open to the public, but advance tickets are required. Tickets will be available starting May 1, online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office or by mail.

The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

For more information, call (310) 247-3600.

And again, you can check out the complete list of schools and countries represented in the competition HERE.