The Reading Film Festival kicked off its weekend full of events Thursday evening with StudentFEST, a special preview night held at the Reading Movies 11 & IMAX.
Now in its third year, StudentFEST included both high school and college filmmakers, featuring 10 films on the big screen.
Organizers hope that the films of the Reading Film Fest inspire students to learn the craft of filmmaking. “Many are superb films. In the past, I would say some of our top rated films have been student films” said Chris Woodward, Associate Director of the Reading Film Fest. “We are very excited to have the students here.”
University of Arizona student Emma Sinex directed the short film ‘Barren’, in which a couple adjusts to life postpartum while coping with a tragic loss.
“The film was loosely inspired by an experience my parents went through with my oldest sister Kate, she was still born about a month before her due date” said Sinex.
“I wanted to explore all of the emotions that come with that kind of a loss.”
Traveling from Michigan, 9th grade student Kathryn Clark directed ‘Traverse City’s NOT SO Haunted Past’. In 8th grade at the time, Clark worked on the project as a part of a class assignment to report on the ghost stories of a local mental hospital.
“I used one camera, myself, and my dad. I researched for a couple of months and and I started filming, taking photos and putting it all together” said Clark.
The winners of StudentFEST will have their films screened during the festival on Saturday, October 2 at 6:30pm at the Reading Movies 11 & IMAX.
This weekend is the 7th Annual ReadingFilmFEST featuring 80+ films represented by over 40 filmmakers and cast members, with many films focusing on current, hot-topic social issues.