The first Elmhurst University Film Festival, a celebration of films created by Elmhurst students, will debut on May 10.
The festival will feature a screening of all nominated films, and will be followed by an awards ceremony, a red carpet and photo ops.
The films that will be shown at the festival cover a range of genres, from comedy to horror; and different forms, from traditional shorts to music videos and animation. Each film is under 20 minutes long and would be considered for awards in such categories as Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Acting.
The films will be judged by digital media faculty members Kristyn Jo Benedyk and John Klein. Benedyk is a writer, director and producer who earned an MFA in writing for film and television at the University of Southern California. She has written and directed four short films, including “Flat Chested,” which was nominated for Best Short Film and Best Screenplay at the Midwest Independent Film Awards. She created the MFA in screenwriting program at DePaul University and helped build film programs at both the University of Cincinnati and Elmhurst University.
Klein is a cinematographer, director and producer who graduated from DePaul University. He has worked as a cinematographer on more than 50 film and television projects, including “Chrysalis,” which garnered 10 wins and 20 nominations at a number of film festivals and competitions; and “Static Space” which received 17 film festival awards and 14 nominations.
The Elmhurst University Film Festival is hosted by the Film Club student organization. Managing co-curricular activities like the film festival provides Elmhurst students with hands-on opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills, giving them a professional edge as they prepare for careers and whatever comes next.
The film festival begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 10, in Schaible Science Center, Illinois Hall. Admission is free and all are welcome. Tickets and more information are at eufilmclub.wixsite.com/eufilmfest.