April 14 marks the start of the 10th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival. Short films and full-length features from around the world will be shown during the course of the festival’s seven days.
On April 18 though, the festival’s scope will narrow significantly for the Student Showcase during which works by students throughout Florida will be shown. During the showcase, the scope will narrow even further to focus on a handful of productions deemed the best, with the filmmakers getting rewarded in varying amounts of scholarship money.
“The Student Showcase of films is the heart and sole of the Palm Beach International Film Festival,” said Michelle Hillery, the festival’s director of operations and programming. “This companion event will present over $25,000 in scholarships, awards, and prizes and will showcase the finest student works from across the State of Florida,” said Hillary.
Newly expanded, this highly acclaimed film competition for high school, community college, and university students has come to be known as a mini academy awards for Florida student filmmakers. In addition to awarding 21 student filmmakers, winning students will receive their very own movie premier hosted by Muvico Parisian 20 at City Place in downtown West Palm Beach.
One group of students hoping to remain visible within that narrow scope is FAU Film Productions, FAU’s film club. Started one year ago by its current president, Christopher Bolender and former FAU alumni Ryan Simcox, the club has subsequently made a new short film with a script submitted by students and a budget supplied by the Student Government. The club’s first production, Re:percussions, has been entered in to this year’s Student Showcase.
“Re:percussions is about four people who have nothing in common, but are linked to one another by the actions they make throughout the day. Every decision they make affects the next person, which affects the next person. They find out that every action has a repercussion.” said Simcox, who also directed the short film.
“The project came about when the film club had its first short film script contest. I got the idea for the script on a flight back from Aspen,” he continued “so I wrote the script, it won the contest and we asked student government for funding to make the project.”
The producer of the project was Jennifer Sworn, the club’s secretary until she graduated last summer. Since then, Jennifer has continued to make the trip from Stuart to the FAU Boca campus twice a month for the sake of the FAUFP. When asked of the club’s value to students, she replied, “I honestly think that the film club enhanced my experience at FAU. Not only could I apply what I was learning in the classrooms to our projects, but it also gave me so many opportunities to meet and work with people who share my same interests. The great thing about the Film Club is that it is not competitive, it’s collaborative. We invite and encourage students from all majors to participate in our projects. No matter what your background is, your ideas are welcome.”
Doug Fairall, FAUFP’s vice-president, also feels the club has value to students specifically studying the art-form: “As a communication major, I am certain that I have learned much about the filmmaking process through the club’s many hands-on productions. There is no comparison between reading about it in a book and actually having producers make call sheets, cinematographers draft out shots, and having the tape roll to create something that is substantial.”
The club has just wrapped up shooting on their third production, Conversations with God, and is currently taking script submissions for their fourth production. The deadline for scripts is March 2, and those interested should seek out information at the club’s website: www.faufilms.com.
But, just because the club’s production schedule chugs forward, doesn’t mean they are not abolishing their hopes for success with the movies they have made thus far. “I’m confident that the work we put into Re:percussions will be rewarded in the PBIFF. I have no doubts in my mind.” Simcox continues, “I am proud of what the film club has accomplished with this film, and I am excited to see it at the festival.”
Of course, you don’t need to be a member of the club to submit to the PBIFF. While this year’s deadline has already passed, there is no better time than the present for filmmakers to get a head start on submissions for next year. “The competition at PBIFF allows students to see what their peers are producing and to connect with other filmmakers in the area,” FAU instructor and Coordinator of Communication Internship Program, Derek Taylor states adding, “I would encourage students to approach it as if they were submitting their film for competition in a major festival and to be cognizant of both the visual and technical quality of their productions.” Continuing on advice for submitters, Taylor states, “Make sure you’re aware of the types of films each festival programs. An underground or experimental film festival will more than likely have no interest in your romantic comedy.”
The PBIFF’s Michelle Hillery also has advice for submitters, “Students who are going to submit to the PBIFF’s Student Showcase of Films should know that, one, you are participating in the process. Two, you are representing our community, three, don’t just submit something to submit. You should enter your very best work. Be proud of it. And, finally, your project is going to be judged by industry experts.”
The Student Showcase of the Palm Beach International Film Festival is scheduled to start April 18 at 10 a.m. in the Duncan Theater, at Palm Beach Community College’s Central Campus. Those interested in the showcase, or the festival in general, should check out the PBIFF’s website at www.pbifilmfest.org.
