Top Honors Awarded at WVSU Film Fest By Marta Ree Tankersley INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Four student filmmakers were awarded top honors, trophies and $200 cash at the 2nd Annual West Virginia State University Student Film and Video Festival on Wed., March 5. In a surprise announcement, the winning films will also be screened during the upcoming spring edition of the West Virginia International Film Festival held in Charleston, W.Va. “Congrats to everyone who screened at the film festival,” said Professor Sam Holdren, a co-director of the event. “A big thanks to our sponsors, our jurors, our vendors, our emcee, our cast and crew, and to everyone who came to the show.” College and high school filmmakers presented 35 films in four categories: narrative, promotional, abstract (animation/music video/experimental) and high school to a standing-room-only crowd. Winning films included “Hostess” by Cross Lanes Christian School senior Rachel Kiser; “The Kanawha Kordsmen” promotional video by 2013 WVSU Magna Cum Laude graduate CR Hays; “My Car Needs Love” music video by WVSU graduate student Leslie Bragg; and narrative film “The Gutter” by WVSU student JP Fulks. “Screening Hostess at the festival made me feel proud,” Kiser said. “It definitely is making me look further into filmmaking as a career option.” Hays works as a legal filmmaker in Charleston. Being recognized for my work is an honor,” he said. “It encourages me to produce more and risk more. It helps me see how we are progressing as a department and the direction we are going in the future. In this digital age, the ability to create films is sometimes as close as your cell phone, according to WVSU Communications Department Chair and Co-Director Ali Ziyati. “We, at WVSU, want to encourage students to learn how filmmaking works, from the basics of photography thru audio, advanced filmmaking and animation. To practice, to produce, to push the envelope of their own limitations,” Ziyati said. Film is a merging of science and art, he said. “For me, art is truly the center of it all,” Bragg said. “This event has given me more than an award. It has given me a great confidence boost in my own art.” Fulks, whose winning film will also be screened at the Colony Film Festival in Marietta, Ohio, said the networking opportunities afforded to filmmakers are extraordinary. “I enjoy all film festivals because theyre one of the few times all the local filmmakers get together,” he said. “Ive been to a few film festivals and this one has been the most professional. Im thankful to have been a participant. “One of the best compliments, I think, one can get is an offer to be involved in your next project. Ive been hearing that a lot lately, so its pretty encouraging,” Fulks said. Festival jurors included computer animation specialist Jamie Cope, who works as Locations Services Manager at the WV Film Office; Jon Matthews, whose latest film, Surviving Cliffside, will premiere at the 2014 South by Southwest Film Festival; Thomas Sayre, creative services producer at WOWK-TV in Charleston, who has worked on shows for HGTV, History Channel, MTV, and many more; Holly Siders, who directs music videos and commercials, and has worked on film crews for companies such as The History Channel and MTV; David Smith, an independent filmmaker and winner of the 2012 Charleston FestivALL 72-Hour Film Challenge; and Kim Spurlock whose film, Down In Number 5, won the student Academy Award. Awards were sponsored by Gen11 Studios, WVSU edc, Katalyst Development Strategies, and Photographic Production Services. The reception and special film shoots were sponsored by Casting LIFE Films, Grazianos Express of Dunbar, The Cold Spot, Honeybaked Ham of Cross Lanes, and Kroger of Dunbar. The event was also supported by WVSU Cultural Activities, and many student organizations. Contributors included Lee Hartman & Sons, Subway of Cross Lanes, and Image Associates, LLC.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 12:15:18 +0000