Aspiring local filmmakers are invited to show their skills at the Tree City Film Festival.
The event, sponsored by the Sylvania Community Arts Commission, will allow teams of all ages to compete in a moviemaking experience.
Executive Director Jennifer Archer initiated the idea after being involved in similar festivals in other communities.
“I see how much goes into the art and craft of filmmaking,” Archer said.
She said the event is a fun and exciting way to bring a different type of art to the community.
The competition will begin March 8; all teams involved will have 50 hours to create a 13-minute motion picture. Teams will draw random genre assignments out of a hat and must abide by surprise prerequisites, which makes it all the more fun, Archer said.
“In the course of a weekend, [contestants] will have a finished short film,” Archer said.
Teams will be split between student and nonstudent contestants; participants should create their own teams before signing up. Archer said anyone wanting to work alone can.
Judging will be done March 18-29 by celebrity judges. The judges are still to be announced, but Archer said she is in talks with people on the production side of “Saturday Night Live.” It brings “exposure on a national level,” Archer said.
The finished projects will be broadcast at a public viewing event on April 12-13. Student entries will be viewed at Maplewood Elementary School while nonstudent entries will be at downtown Sylvania’s Train Barn. The winning films will be announced at these screenings. The schedule of specific showtimes will be announced and tickets are $8 for the nonstudent category and $5 for the student category. Children younger than 12 are free.
Based on an “impressive” turnout of contestants, the deadline to sign up was extended to March 1. The application fee per nonstudent team is $35 and $25 for student teams.
Prizes include $300 for the first place nonstudent group entry, $150 for the first place student group entry and $100 to the audience favorite.
For more information, applications and updates, visit SylvaniaArts.org.
Tags: Sylvania Community Arts Commission, Tree City Film Festival
Source:
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2013/02/14/sylvania-festival-shines-light-on-local-filmmakers/