By Kalyn Dunkins
Arts & Life Editor
The 40th Annual Denison Film Festival premieres this Saturday, May 2, and will be held in Slayter Auditorium. Admittance is free and open to the general public, and popcorn will also be provided to all in attendance.
“I’m really excited to see the work put into all of the projects,” said Jabari Johnson ‘17 from . “I feel quite close to a number of the filmmakers and even got the chance to help with their productions.”
The festival is sponsored by the Department of Cinema with the assistance of the Denison Film Society to screen the films. Genres range from documentary to comedy to drama. Lovers of horror film are in for a treat–– the genre is featured in the festival this year.
As a graduating senior, Gina Ezzone from Painesville, Ohio gave input on how the film festival and movie-making as a whole here has impacted her. “There’s a quote I heard once, from Jodie Foster actually, and she said, ‘We made movies together, and you can’t get more intimate than that,’” she said.
She continued, “That’s how I feel: happy and blessed, and excited for the future. I can’t be nostalgic because I know it’s not the end and the beautiful and challenging experiences I’ve had here with my peers and mentors will continue in years to come.”
The filmmakers are Junior and Senior Cinema Workshop students who have spent one to two semesters writing, directing and shooting their own films. Each filmmaker chooses his or her own medium, and films are shot on digital video or 16mm film.
“Since it takes so long to make films, and we rarely get to screen our work,” Ezzone said. “The film festival is a valuable chance for us to share what we learn in the Cinema Department with the rest of campus. But, more importantly, it’s an opportunity to share our love of film and filmmaking with the Denison and Granville communities.”
Can’t make the premiere screening? No worries! There will be a matinee screening of the festival May 3 at 1:30 p.m. You can check out the trailer by visiting https://vimeo.com/125492989.