More than 130 students and alumni participated in this year’s event, submitting a total of 33 films – 20 in the student category and 13 in the alumni category. Each submission had to include the line of dialogue, “I’ve been looking for something to do with my life,” as well as a bottle as a prop. In addition to these common requirements, each team was assigned a different genre for their film. Entries that fit the festival theme of “Film and Renewal” were given preference by the jury. Films could be no longer than four minutes.
The films were screened to a packed house as part of the W&M Global Film Festival on Friday, Feb. 20 at the historic Kimball Theatre in Colonial Williamsburg. This year’s Jury Prizes, selected by a panel of visiting artists and others, were awarded to “Concert in Focus” in the student category and “Collected” in the alumni category.
The audience award for best film in the student category went to “Dad Dreams,” with “Hometown Earth” winning the audience award for the alumni category. Additional prizes were given in each category for cinematography, editing, best use of the assigned prop, and best use of the assigned line of dialogue.
Swem Library awarded high speed 1TB external hard drives to the student best film winners.
View the student films and the alumni films on Swem Library’s YouTube account.
Film awards:
Student category: Best cinematography: “Don't Wait Up” by Mikan Media Best editing: “Valentine's Day” by Team Ryan Vaughan Best editing honorable mention: “Overdue” by Puns Not Guns Best use of prop: “Concert in Focus” by Impartial Ostriches Best use of line of dialogue: “The Point” by Porch Front Productions Best film as determined by jury: “Concert in Focus” by Impartial Ostriches (pictured above) Best film as determined by audience: “Dad Dreams” by Dad Dreams Alumni category: Best cinematography: “Collected” by Ziti Productions Best editing: “Bottle Story” by Snowbound Best use of prop: “Baby's Travels” by Kite Flying Society Best use of Line of Dialogue: “Collected” by Ziti Productions Best film as determined by jury: “Collected” by Ziti Productions Best film as determined by audience: “Hometown Earth” by Terillionaires