Troy University plays host to first annual FilmFest

By Haley Odom

A new cultural opportunity is coming to Troy for the first time this weekend.

Troy's first FilmFest, a film festival in conjunction with TroyFest, will be held April 25 at the Studio on Walnut Street in downtown Troy.

Features at the FilmFest will include several student films by some of Troy University's own filmmakers.

The day's events begin at 10 a.m., with a 30-minute session of Troy University unrated student films at 11:30 a.m.

Sara Dismukes, assistant professor of art and design, said many of the student filmmakers are part of either Time/Sound, a graphic design class dealing with motion graphics, interactive media and sound, or Sound Techniques, which is taught by Chris Rich, assistant professor of speech and theater.

'Many of the films featured in our 30-minute segment of the FilmFest will come out of this collaboration,' Dismukes said. 'These films are one minute in length, and are made in (Adobe) Flash or Premiere.'

Another session of student films, including a short zombie film that was just recorded in Troy, shows at 1:30 p.m.

John Jinright, associate professor of music, was one of the major people involved in making the idea of having a film festival at Troy a reality.

'Last fall, I was elected to the (Troy Arts Council) and put on the presenters board. In other words, we're the folks who figure out what we're going to bring to the community,' Jinright said.

Jinright and Pam Allen, associate professor of art and a two-year TAC member, were charged with finding out what people would like to see come to the community.

'We were trying to come up with new programs, new events to get more people involved,' Allen said.

'I got this great idea to send out a survey (of what people would like to attend),' she said. 'On the survey, they indicated that they wanted outdoor concerts and film festivals.'

After getting the survey results, Jinright met with people from the Southern Arts Federation, an organization that promotes Southern artists and Southern arts.

Jinright said he was offered the traveling film festival at a good price, and that's when he knew it was 'the beginning of a film festival.'

'If we get a good response, we've already established plans for next year to have a true film festival where we will begin to award cash prizes, and we'll open up the door for films to be submitted from all over the world,' Jinright said.

Jinright said having the film festival and TroyFest during the same weekend is a good thing.

Another member of Troy's art faculty said he thinks FilmFest is new and different, and he hopes the festival is well received.

'It is such an important new vision of art and something that has not been seen in this area,' said Greg Skaggs, assistant professor of design and a member of the film and video committee.

'I think it's a definite avenue for creative people who may not necessarily draw or paint, but they have an eye, and they can see that through a viewfinder,' he added.

Many students said playing host to a film festival is a great opportunity for Troy.

'I think it's an excellent opportunity for students hoping to launch a career in the film business, whether it be for screenwriting, makeup tech, or photography,' said Ashton King, a senior Spanish major from Blakely, Ga.

'It gives students a chance to get their 'amateur' work out there in the public, and you never know who might happen to see your work,' she added.

Members of the Troy art faculty said they think the FilmFest will create interest and will grow to be an even bigger event, and they encourage students to attend.

'If you have a university crowd, whether it's students or professors, it's always been interested in viewing foreign films, short films or small-budget films,' Allen said. 'I just think it will take off, because it is something that people are interested in.'

'Personally, if I was to set goals, what I'd like to see would be that it motivates our students to create their own, well-created, well-put together video to enter into student film festivals across the United States,' Skaggs said.

'How often do they get a film festival? Probably not very often. This is a rare opportunity in lower Alabama,' Skaggs added.

'The FilmFest has a great selection of films, especially considering that this is the first year,' Dismukes said. 'I hope that it will get a great response from the community, and become a part of the arts landscape here.'

'I would love to have a festival that really has a lot to offer,' Jinright said. 'I think that makes us unique in the South, and I think it would be something that could grow to be a true regional event.'

'I mean, Sundance had to start somewhere,' he added.

FilmFest admission is free, but patrons are encouraged to make donations towards making next year's festival even better.

In addition to films, there will be a question-and-answer session with film festival panelists at 5:30 p.m. and the JazzFest and dinner at 6.