Contact: Kimberly Osborne (304) 766-3363 kosborne@wvstateu.edu
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – College and high school filmmakers presented 35 films to a standing-room-only crowd at the second annual West Virginia State University (WVSU) Student Film and Video Festival on Wednesday, March 5. Awards were presented in the following categories: narrative, promotional, abstract and high school.
“Film is a merging of science and art,” said Festival Co-Director and WVSU Communications Professor Dr. Ali Ziyati. “We, at WVSU, encourage students to learn how filmmaking works, from the basics of photography through audio, advanced filmmaking and animation, and to practice, produce, and push the envelope of their own limitations.”
Winning films included the narrative “The Gutter” by WVSU Regents Bachelor of Arts student JP Fulks; “My Car Needs Love” music video by Media Studies graduate student Leslie Bragg; “The Kanawha Kordsmen” promotional video by recent Regents Bachelor of Arts graduate CR Hays; and the film “Hostess” by Cross Lanes Christian School senior Rachel Kiser.
The winning filmmakers each received a trophy and $200 prize. They also learned during a surprise announcement that their films will be screened at the upcoming spring edition of the West Virginia International Film Festival.
“Congrats to everyone who screened at the film festival,” said Festival Co-Director and WVSU Communications Instructor Sam Holdren “A big thanks to our sponsors, our jurors, our vendors, our emcee, our cast and crew and to everyone who came to the show.”
Jurors for the second annual WVSU Student Film and Video Festival featured media professionals from a variety of backgrounds: Jaime Cope, the Locations Services Manager at the West Virginia Film Office; Thomas Sayre, Creative Services Producer at WOWK-TV; and accomplished filmmakers Jon Matthews, Holly Siders, David Smith and Kim Spurlock.
The event was supported by WVSU Cultural Activities and several other student organizations. Contributors included Lee Hartman & Sons, Subway of Cross Lanes and Image Associates, LLC.
Awards were sponsored by Gen11 Studios, the WVSU Economic Development Center, Katalyst Development Strategies and Photographic Production Services. The reception and special film shoots were sponsored by Casting LIFE Films, Graziano’s Express of Dunbar, The Cold Spot, Honeybaked Ham of Cross Lanes and Kroger of Dunbar.
Follow on Facebook and Twitter .