About two dozen films made by high school, college and university students have been chosen to hit the big screen at the June 24 Surrey Film Festival.
More than 50 submissions were received, with the top films chosen in six categories:
The nominated films and filmmakers are:
Public Service Announcements:
Invisible in a Crowd - Jane Wong (Fraser Heights Secondary); The Choice - Keith Grant (Enver Creek Secondary); and Truancy - Stanley Kumar (L.A. Matheson Secondary)
Sports/Music Video:
Teach Me How to Study - Keith Grant (Enver Creek); Lunch Time Loop - Stuart Brookes (Fleetwood Park Secondary); and Floppy Disk - Kurtis Bucholtz (Fraser Heights).
Animation:
Odday and Silver Soul - Nikki Segovia (Yale Secondary) and PhotoDay - Melodee Lovelace-Dodoo
Short Films:
Ken - Brett McCrady (Earl Marriott Secondary); City Bear - Julia Thrift (Earl Marriott); The Toque - Devin Ariyaratne (Johnson Heights Secondary); Dear Emma - Jane Wong (Fraser Heights); Rose is a Rose is a Rose - Justine Crawford (Enver Creek); High School Conspiracy - Moiz Karim (Tamanawis Secondary); and The Bag - Stuart Brookes (Fleetwood Park).
Screenwriting Nominations:
City Bear - Earl Marriott Secondary; Dear Emma - Fraser Heights Secondary; and High School Conspiracy – Tamanawis Secondary.
Experimental Films (Screening in reception area as pre-show):
Washing Machine - Brayden Hall (Earl Marriott); Glass - Kory Berikoff (Enver Creek); Reve Penible - Alecia Mantei (Enver Creek); Experimental - Elizabeth Brewin (Enver Creek); and The Unknown – Justine Crawford (Enver Creek).
The screening and awards gala take place at the Surrey Arts Centre, 13750 88 Ave., on June 24, 7 p.m.
Festival goes global
Big plans are on the horizon for the local film festival.
By 2013, the festival will expand to become the Surrey International Film Festival.
Festival organizer Glen Chua says Lightyear Digital and its partners are planning to sponsor the festival, expanding it from one day to three and including workshops and master classes, as well as the gala event for filmmakers from around the world.
“For the past five years, our goal and dream was to expand the festival to become an international film festival, receiving not only student films, but also independent and mainstream features as well as professional shorts,” says Chua. “It will truly be a spectacular event.”