On April 21 and 22, 7220 Entertainment will be hosting the first ever Student Short Film Festival. Film submissions for this event are due today.
This event will be the first time that 7220 Entertainment has featured the work of UW students. Gabriel Lattimer, 7220 Entertainment film director, said he hopes the event will draw a variety of films.
“The purpose of the 7220 Entertainment Short Film Festival is to provide students who are interested in film and video production with an opportunity to showcase their work,” Lattimer said. “We hope to receive films that promote diverse perspectives, varying storytelling methods and increase visibility of filmmakers on the University of Wyoming campus.”
Lattimer also said one of 7220 Entertainment’s goals is to celebrate original student work that may be overlooked in other settings.
“As an institution of higher learning, [UW] is responsible for providing opportunities for students to formulate new and exciting ideas,” Lattimer said. “These ideas are often filed into a portfolio or forgotten, with limited acknowledgement of the time and effort put into the project. [We] would like to celebrate the time and effort it takes to create original and outstanding student work.”
Hannah Lewis, 7220 Entertainment marketing intern, said this is an excellent opportunity for students who are passionate about film to showcase their work, even if they are not studying film production.
“Many students in the university have skills in filmmaking without the ability to show their craft to their peers,” Lewis said. “What the festival allows us to do is showcase the talents of university students in a way that is local and caters to them specifically.”
Andres Romero, international student in sustainability and global markets, is sharing a film he created about his travels across India. He said the opportunity to show his film at the Student Short Film Festival helps him share what he has learned.
“I think I have a powerful message to send to my audience,” Romero said. “I want them to see how traveling alone can be a true adventure, and maybe I will be able to motivate someone to do the same.”
Romero said his trip was a life-changing adventure and that he hopes his film will reflect that.
“It really did make an impact, therefore sharing my experience at the 7220 Student Short Film Festival is a real pleasure,” Romero said. “I will also take this opportunity to promote a new RSO that I am starting. This organization will be called the Backpacking Travel Club (BTA) and starting Fall 2017.”
Films entered in the festival will also be eligible to win prizes. The top three films, judged by faculty members, will be awarded. Judging criteria include direction, screenwriting, sound, acting and originality.
“Twenty points will be awarded for each category,” Lattimer said. “The ballots are then counted as a general score per judge and then the overall score is met.”
Though the competition is an important part of the festival, Lattimer said this is not the event’s main purpose.
“While there are prizes associated with being the top three selections, we are excited to celebrate all submissions and create an event that can be continued into the future,” Lattimer said.
Showings for the Student Short Film Festival will take place on April 21 and April 22 in the Union Family Room at 6:30 p.m.
The April 21 showing will include all selections and free popcorn. The April 22 showing will be a showcase of the top three films with hors d’oeuvres and an awards ceremony. Both events are free and open to students and the public.
