For the eleventh year in a row, Fairfield students will be given the opportunity to showcase their original short films at a celebration of talent and creativity

Cinefest is an annual event at which select student films, which were accepted by a panel of judges called the jury committee, are screened. The event will take place on Friday, May 1, at 6 p.m. in the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Theatre of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

The jury committee, which consists of faculty from the film, television and media arts program along with other departments, will also decide which films will be awarded the 13 prizes in different categories such as cinematography, directing, editing and sound design. These will be awarded after the screening of the films.

There will also be an audience choice award; for this prize, the audience members of Cinefest will vote for their favorite film. This, along with the other prizes, will be awarded after the screening.

The jury committee consisted of Rev. Mark Scalese, S.J., the director of the film, television and media arts program; Rev. James Mayzik, S.J., associate professor of visual and performing arts; Jo Yarrington, studio arts faculty member; Brooke Duffy, reference and instruction librarian and media specialist at the DiMenna-Nyselius Library; Scott Lacey, associate professor of anthropology; Karen Connolly, writer and producer at the Media Center; Paul Marcarelli ‘92, writer and producer and David Lerner, assistant professor in the film, television and media arts program.

Beginning in 2005, Cinefest is hosted by the film, television and media arts program of the visual and performing arts department. It will be free and open to members of the university and the public.

Before the screening of the films, a pre-show will be held, which will include refreshments, a gathering of student filmmakers and crew and red carpet interviews.

“Every year Cinefest gives us the opportunity to showcase the best of our students’ work,” said Scalese. “They are dedicated artists who work incredibly hard at what they do. Cinefest really gives them the chance to shine.”

According to Mayzik, “This year’s films promise to explore important issues related to the human condition, and of course to be entertaining as well.”

This year, the films to be screened are “Gooners,” directed by Jen Calhoun ‘15; “Painting the Coast of Maine, Aline Ordman,” directed by Stan Grunder ‘16; “The Last Man Alive,” directed by Sean McDermott ‘15; “King of the Jungle,” directed by Tom Leigh ‘15; “Wickham Falls,” directed by Marc Prescott ‘15; “Home is Where,” directed by Tom Martorano ‘15; “Pollywog,” directed by Chris Kelley ‘15; “Abuelito del Cielo,” directed by Diana Rivera Vera ‘15; “Edna,” directed by Marisa Forziati ‘15; “Me or the Bear,” directed by Phil Iervolino ‘16; “Daylight Come,” directed by Jim Lacey ‘15; “Bunny,” directed by Arthur Tansey ‘16; “My Senior Moment,” directed by Ricky Haas ‘15 and “Billy,” directed by Robbie Hill ‘15 and Kelley.

These films were selected from a total of 30 film and video submissions, and three unproduced screenplays.

“Edna” director Marisa Forziati ‘15 commented on Cinefest.

“Since I’m a senior, it’s basically the biggest event of the year in our program, and everyone is very close in our program, so it’s definitely something to look forward to. It’s really fun because it’s basically our little Academy Awards … we can all watch them together in the Quick Center Theater.”

Director of “Wickham Falls” Marc Prescott ‘15 added, “I knew that it was going to be an incredibly challenging process. It was my goal for me and my crew to push the boundaries of everything we’ve learned.”

“‘Wickham Falls’ is a murder mystery about the five remaining members of the Wickham Family as they come together for the reading of the will of their deceased patriarch,” Prescott said.

“What begins as a chance to inherit the coveted Wickham fortune turns into a night filled with voices from beyond the grave and murder.”

Marisa Forziati also discussed her film, “Edna,” saying, “I did a short narrative … it’s a simple story with only three characters … about a girl who works at a grocery store who comes across an old woman who is peculiar and they develop a weird relationship. I don’t want to give away the end though.”

To find out more about “Edna” and the thirteen other nominations, celebrate your first day of May at Cinefest seeing movies made by the future directors of the film industry.

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-- Junior | Co-News Editor -- English: Education

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