Student Film Festival at U.Va. Slated for April 10-11

Text reads: The Virginia Festival of Student film. Newcomb Theater April 10-11, 2009

Virginia Festival of Student Film

April 1, 2009 — The Student Film Society at the University of Virginia will present a film festival April 10-11 in Newcomb Theater.

Events will kick off with a program of short films on Friday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The program includes 12 to 15 short films selected from about 30 submitted by undergraduate students from around the country. The screening includes three genres: narrative, experimental and documentary. Comedian Sarah Tiana from Comedy Central's "Reno 911" will host the event and also give a performance. Film entries will be judged and awards given.

On Saturday, "Lunch Shorts," with Mike Plante of Sundance Film Festival, will be screened from 4 to 5 p.m. Plante and a friend invented the premise for the "Lunch Shorts" series while dining together and the friend realized he didn't have any money to pay. Plante paid and challenged his friend to provide him with a short film made for the cost of his lunch.

A panel discussion will follow at 6 p.m. featuring Lane Kneedler, a programmer at the American Film Institute; Jeff Lowell, a local writer of the feature releases "John Tucker Must Die" and "Over Her Dead Body"; Matt Arden, a producer, writer and director for Turner Entertainment; and independent filmmaker Eric Hurt.

The evening continues at 6:30 p.m. with the premiere screening of Hurt's short feature "Lullaby."

At 7 p.m., there will be a special encore screening and award ceremony for the winners of Friday's short film program. The judges for the festival include Jeff Wadlow, director of "Never Back Down," and Mark Johnson, producer of "Rain Man" and the "Chronicles of Narnia").

This is the 14th year of The Virginia Festival of Student Film, formerly known as the Salmagundi Film Festival. The event is presented by the Filmmakers Society of the University of Virginia and the University Programs Council. Sponsors include the Parents Committee, Arts and Sciences Council, Cavalier Films and Red Giant Software Company.

Attendees will receive a 20 percent discount on all Red Giant Software Company products.

For information, visit www.vasfilm.com or contact festival coordinator Zachary Fabian at zrf3d@virginia.edu or 703-489-6933.

— By Jane Ford

Media Contact