Is the next Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese in our midst?
A new film festival for Delta students will showcase the short films of budding filmmakers next month.
The Delta Interschool Film Festival invites both high school and elementary students to display their producing, directing, shooting and editing prowess. And on May 19, the winning moviemakers will walk the red carpet for a gala awards night where their movies will be screened and prizes will be handed out.
Rick Paterson, district vice-principal in charge of technology, has helped organize the event, aimed at further engaging and encouraging students interested in making films.
The concept of a district-wide festival came on the heels of the Laptops for Learning program, where 1,100 MacBooks were brought into Delta elementary schools. Teachers were then given workshops on how to use some of the programs and how to create podcasts and videos with their students, and the creative juices began to flow.
"We knew that there was fair amount of activity happening and we thought 'why don't we capitalize on that activity?'" says Paterson, adding he hopes this will be the first of many annual Delta student film festivals.
Comedies, dramas, animation, documentaries, public service announcements, promotional pieces and music videos will all be considered. And organizers say the subject matter is up to the entrants.
"This time around, we left if wide open," Paterson said. "We didn't want to be limiting the first time out."
He said the festival will feature "the best of the best" of Delta student films, and will hopefully encourage kids to take their work further and enter the B.C. student film festival as well.
The Delta entry deadline is April 29, 4 p.m. and students must go through their principals or film teachers before entering. Details are available at www.deltasd.bc.ca/diff/
Four prizes will be awarded – one for a short production (30 to 60 seconds) and one for a long production (one to five minutes) at the secondary and elementary levels. The Gala Awards Night will be held at Burnsview Secondary, 7658 112 St., and all entrants are invited to attend.