The annual showcase, which features approximately 20 student works this year, is slated for Friday, May 5, from 5 to 7 p.m.
It seems only fitting to have films and narrative works created by Elon University students celebrated right here on campus.
Katie Shannon ’18, president of Cinelon, acknowledges there are several benefits to the change in venue.
“We are excited to host the festival on campus because it makes our student work more accessible to other students and faculty,” she said. “In the past, we have had it at Carousel Cinemas and that made it more difficult for students to get out to see our work. Plus, Turner Theatre is absolutely gorgeous and we are so excited to be able to screen projects in the space.”
Approximately 20 student works – from nearly 40 submissions – will be screened, including three Cinelon projects: “One Night Only,” “Lockdown” and “Uncle Sam’s Great Mistake.” The festival will also feature the Cinema and Television Arts BFA thesis projects produced by Elon seniors Zach Bocian, Rhett Lawson and Mitch Herndon. Bocian created the short film “Facemask,” while Lawson and Herndon collaborated on “From Nowhere.”
“I think it is important to celebrate the hard work that students have put into their projects,” Shannon said. “For many of these projects, students put in months of work. It’s always nice to see those long hours being appreciated.”
The festival marks the conclusion of an eventful academic year for the student production company, which moved last fall into a new office space in the lower level of McEwen Communications Building. The group’s membership expanded to approximately 50 active participants, who produced a variety of short films, music videos, commercials and other projects.
Shannon added that the film festival serves as a great learning opportunity not only for Cinelon members but also for all festival attendees.
“It is important to see the kind of content your peers are putting out there to be able to learn from them,” she said. “All students within the School of Communications have a lot to learn from each other, and it’s important to take advantage of those opportunities outside of the classroom.”
Added Ian Kunsey ’19, Cinelon’s vice president: “As a communications student, in such a collaborative major, it is very important to see what your peers are creating. And this festival is a great way to showcase what Elon students are producing.”