Through the Student Lens: Colorado State University Student Film Festival
On March 26, student filmmakers will shine at the inaugural Through the Student Lens: Colorado State University Film Festival. The evening will showcase short films made by CSU students and alumni. Following the film screening, filmmakers will participate in a question and answer session to talk about their work.
Though CSU does not have a specific filmmaking program, multiple departments offer an assortment of film classes. Coupled with the increasingly accessible technology, CSU students are making vibrant, creative, and impactful films. Through the Student Lens offers students an opportunity have their work shown to both on and off campus audience members.
Through the Student Lens was conceived and founded by Visiting Professor of Film in the Department of Communication Studies, Usama Alshaibi. He is an active filmmaker, with several short films, documentaries and feature films to his credit. His films have premiered on the Sundance Channel, PBS and other television stations and film festivals across the globe.
Alshaibi notes, “Through the Student Lens is a film festival that wants to hear and see students’ worlds. It is important to have a film festival exclusively for CSU students and to show and celebrate their work.“
Joining Alshaibi to lead Through the Student Lens is junior journalism student Lauryn Ritchie, who is an active filmmaker on campus. Alshaibi wanted to ensure that the program had student leadership in artistic decision making and event execution. Ritchie brings 8-plus years of experience working in film production, specifically video editing.
Ritchie says, “Students have such a unique and fresh perspective of life and social issues. I think film is one of the best ways to convey emotion and help people understand the ways that you view our world.” She hopes student submit films that explore themes that are important to them and are clearly focused.
Through the Student Lens’ goal is to highlight student viewpoints and creative achievements. Films on any topic or of any genre will be considered. Ritchie notes, “Participating in Through the Student Lens is an excellent way to start sharing some of your work and some of the ideas/messages that you value.”
All students and alumni whose work is selected to screen will be invited to participate in a post-screening question and answer session to talk more about their work and vision. Additionally, following the festival, filmmakers can opt in to have their films shared widely on Vimeo and other online platforms as part of a Through the Student Lens student film package.
Call for Submissions: From now through February 24, Through the Student Lens is accepting film submissions from CSU students and alumni. Films must be under ten minutes, must be from 2017 or later, and can be in any genre and on any topic. Submission is free. Guidelines and link to submit can be found here.
Festival details: Through the Student Lens: Colorado State University Film Festival will take place on March 26 in Behavioral Sciences Building A 101 at 5:00 P.M. The festival is free and open to the public. Through the Student Lens is supported by the ACT Human Rights Film Festival.
ACT Human Rights Film Festival returns to CSU for its fifth edition April 3-11, 2020.
