9th Annual Film Fest Celebrates Veteran and Amateur Filmmakers Alike
2015 marks the ninth consecutive year that Houghton has hosted Film Fest, its annual celebration of student-made films. Its purpose has been to exhibit and reward the work of these students who are willing to submit their projects and relinquish them to the critical eyes of a panel of judges as well as the hundreds of others who fill Wesley Chapel to congratulate the winners on their films as they are shown.
Film Fest covered a wide array of submissions, ranging from narrative driven films, to more technical ones showcasing an attention to shot composition, to commercials for certain events, as well as many other categories. Hosted entertainingly by JL Miller, townhouse resident director, and Michael Jordan, dean of the chapel, the event chugged on without too many hiccups, as the space in-between viewings of each category’s submissions was filled with their banter and commentary. Overall, the quality of films put on display this year was good, there being some truly impressive stand-outs among the winners and runners-up. The coveted Willard Awards were distributed to the winners, a few student filmmakers picking up more than one.
Ice Nine Studios (a collaboration between Colin Belt ‘15 and Matthew Grim ‘16) snagged four Willards for their animations: one for the best animation award for the eye-catching, ethereal, and especially well done Allice trailer, another for best editing for the bizarre mind-trip that was, The Supple Chunk, the third for best drama with Candle’s Tale, another animated feature. The last film of theirs to take home the Willard for best sound was one of my personal favorites, Rainbow Kitten Fun Time, an energetic, colorful, and nostalgic homage to classic video games and the power of friendship. Ice Nine Studios and their strength in this year’s Film Fest hopefully signifies an increase in the presence of animated features in the coming years.
Hannah Folkerts pulled in two Willards as well. The first for best documentary with Andrea, a well-shot film that tells the story of the titular young woman Andrea who aspires to be a ballet dancer despite the many setbacks she has experienced. The film cuts back and forth between Andrea speaking to the camera and her dancing in the studio, capturing both the expressiveness in her face as she tells her story and the expressiveness in her body as she floats, twirls, and spins across the floor. The second of Folkerts’ Willard’s came for best cinematography for Country and City, a collection of truly excellent camera work, gathering contrasting shots from environments both urban and rural, showing some remarkably beautiful scenery in both settings.
The Willard awarded for best film of the night went to Derek Brooker’s Lucid, an incredibly shot and innovatively edited film that held my breathless attention from the very first scene. Lucid excels in conveying the anxiety and bleakness of the situation faced by the short film’s silent protagonist, played well by Brooker himself. Lucid fully deserved its recognition as the best of the best.
Several submissions were made by first time filmmakers, introduced to the field through various outlets, be that through sheer curiosity or class assignments. Ava Bergen ‘17 won her Willard for best comedy with her film Coffee, a project made initially for her Digital Video class. Her film advocated for the “wonder-drug” that college students have become all too well acquainted with, caffeine. Ava commented in regard to her film, “Though it was satirical, the message was one that I relate to on a personal level. I’m fascinated by the effects of sleep deprivation on the brain, as well as my hopeless dependence on coffee.” Bergen described her decision to submit Coffee as an easy one, “I thought, why not? There is no downside to submitting and seeing what happens.” When asked what the recognition that comes with winning a Willard has done for her motivation as a burgeoning filmmaker, she responded, “It’s definitely an encouragement, especially because filmmaking is so fun. I love doing it, so it was nice to receive the positive feedback.” In addition to some of the more seasoned veterans of the filmmaking trade, students like Bergen are the success stories that will hopefully influence other potential filmmakers out there who will do their best to ensure that Film Fest retains its quality and diversity for years to come.
I’ve reported stories and hosted our news show, Morning Edition, for our National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate in Binghamton, NY since the end of 2013. But getting here was no small feat. Recent-Houghton-Grad-Monica – young and naive, yet self-confident – was just crazy enough to apply for the job after an internship at the NPR station in Kansas City. What a time that was! Interviewing NRA members, mixing audio, investigative reporting. But it all started from the first, most beloved, stepping stone that is the Houghton Star. 2010-2011 was a year that turned girls into women (you remember, Kristen?), honing news judgment through whatever means accessible. The most grandest – and often the most depressing – night of the week was Wednesday night when the editorial staff worked magic laying out the paper until 3:00am in the Star office. And of course, took a break to cut the lights, get office chairs in position, and crank Lonely Island’s “I’m on a Boat.” Thank you, Houghton Star. All good things to the future of the newspaper that still means so much.
