After going through their first year “boot camp,” as Steve Ross, the director of the School of Film and Art likes to call it, second-year film students are now ready to perform their own pieces.
Showcasing their work from last year’s sophomore students, The Athena Cinema will hold a Second-Year Screening Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
According to their program, the screening will “represent the deep commitment, hard work, and distinctive voices of an exciting group of emerging filmmakers.”
The filmmakers whose work will be showcased are Rebecca Bania, Riley Gibson, Ben Guenther, Nina Huang, Brian Leisring, Ross Morin, Jennifer Roberts, Bilal Sami, Cody Vandenberg, Riley Wilson, Ryan Wilson and Josh Young.
“I am very excited and proud to be showcasing my film in the screening,” Bania said. “It’s a very important experience to share the film with those that have supported me along the way and the community of Athens.”
All the films showcased in the Second-Year Screening will be narratives with the exception of Aliyah Yaeli, a documentary, and the trailer for Lavender Rocks.
“I hope that people outside of the community will get a chance to see what is made and shown here on the campus,” said Chris Iacofano, general manager of the Athena Cinema.
Iacofano said he thinks the films showcased by the school and at this screening should be recognized for the perspectives, backgrounds and visions the young filmmakers bring to the world and to film.
“I hope people get that while most of these films may not feel or look like what you want to see in theaters, each and every decision was made with intent and care,” Gibson said. “There is a reason these films look and feel as they do. I just hope the people take the time to think about why that is. “
Gibson also said that the screening represents a new age in cinema, as almost all the films have been shot digitally.
“I'm very excited to show my cast and crew what they slaved over for three days in a small, sweltering apartment,” Vandenberg said. “Showcasing a film to a crowd outside of the School of Film is also a fantastic experience — you can really gauge what's working for them and what's not.”
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