The Student Film Organization will be accepting student film submissions tomorrow for the 2002 Penn State Student Film Festival.
Students who have made a film since April 2001 can submit it in the Finestra Lab in the basement of Carnegie Building. Films will be accepted through 8 p.m. April 11.
The festival, formerly known as CAN, will be at 6:30 p.m. April 25 in Schwab Auditorium.
The Student Film Organization decided to change the name of the festival it sponsors because of the negative connotations associated with the CAN film festival, said Lisa Tabler, SFO's festival chairperson.
"People were calling it the trash can," Tabler (senior-film and video) said. "We're taking a turn for the best and changing the name."
The festival was originally called CAN in reference to the famous Cannes Film Festival held in France each year.
Besides the new name, the festival will have other new features. After the Festival there will be an awards ceremony. Awards will be given to the outstanding films in the following categories: narrative, experimental, documentary and animation. Awards will also be given for outstanding aspects of film production in the areas of direction, sound, editing, cinematography and screenwriting; as well as awards for outstanding actor and actress.
Another change in the festival is in the judging. In years past, students have been recruited to watch films all day and judge them. This year, there will be no student judges; professors and alumni will judge the films. Tabler said the new method would be fairer for all involved in the festival. Judges choose the best 120 minutes of the films submitted to be shown during the festival. In the past, films submitted to the festival have ranged from 30 seconds to 30 minutes long.
Submission forms and guidelines are available at the Carnegie Equipment room, located in the basement of the building, Tabler said.
Film submissions will be accepted from all students, not just film and video majors, she added.
"I think the film festival is a forum for student voice in the medium of cinema," said Levi Abrino SFO Treasurer. Abrino (junior-film and video) compared the festival to a forum of speakers. "It's a place where viewpoints can come together and the audience can see the strength and weaknesses in all of them."
Abrino said student filmmakers strive to communicate with people and the festival allows the filmmakers to showcase their films to campus and the local community.
The festival itself is open to all students as well. Tickets will be free because SFO secured UPAC funding for the event, Tabler said.
"It's entertainment, it's free and hopefully students who attend the festival will have an overall appreciation for what other students have been working on all year long," Tabler said.
