California Baptist University students are submitting short films for a cash prize to the 2018 Film Festival, which will begin April 19 at 6 p.m. The festival will be held in conjunction with the 2018 Riverside International Film Festival.
All majors are welcome to participate, opening the door for a variety of students to show off their passion for the process of filmmaking.
Historically, in addition to theater majors, a variety of other majors have submitted films including nursing, business and marketing majors.
Students may submit short films in the category of “Narrative/Fiction,” “Non-fiction” or animated films about any topic they choose.
Taji Saleem, sophomore film major, is submitting a short film titled “Purple Pen.” In this film, he is in front of the camera but he said his goal is to also work behind the camera as an editor, cinematographer or director.
“In our short film, written by David Ramos, I play a character on screen,” Saleem said. “However, I also took part in the conceptual process, which including casting, filming and managing sound.”
Selina Torres, sophomore film production major, attended the 2017 Film Festival last year but is planning to submit her own work this year.
“The environment was comfortable and not intimidating. Being a contestant, however, it can add some tension when entering the grounds,” Torres said.
Michael Eaton, associate professor of film studies/film production, said for the past five years, at least a dozen films have been submitted with most of them getting accepted for screening.
By interacting with the passionate festival audience and other filmmakers, students can gain valuable feedback on the quality of their work.
“Cinema greatly enriches our lives by teaching us about ourselves and others, as well as about the world that we inhabit,” Eaton said. “It allows us to encounter human experience in its rich variety and multiplicity; it gives us access to other worlds, cultures and minds.”
Students who are interested can submit any film created from May 2017 through April 2018 on Vimeo. The deadline is Friday, April 13, at noon.
Students interested in submitting a film should read the Competition Guidelines and Entry Form which is available through Karen Heinze in the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design (CAVAD). Entry forms need to be turned in by 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 28.
