Students with and without film experience were given a chance to tell a story through a short movie in the Zoobie Film Festival hosted by the multimedia lab on BYU’s campus. The festival showcase will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Varsity Theater.
The amateur festival was started by the students who work in the BYU multimedia lab. The lab technicians work with average, non-film students and wanted to celebrate the works they created.
“The event was started by students, for the students,” said multimedia lab assistant Michael Schroeder.
The term “film festival” carries the connotation that only the best of the best can submit their work, but the multimedia lab is trying to change that by creating a festival that all students can participate in.
“It’s a real shame there aren’t more of them easily available to students here in Provo, and we want to give people the chance to get their work shown,” said event coordinator and multimedia lab worker Robert Hill.
The film festival is student-oriented, and any students were allowed to enter the competition, whether they were experienced in film or just wanted to try their hand at it.
“Most of them don’t consider themselves avid filmmakers, but they do some great work and are proud of the films they come up with, so we want to celebrate the projects that every student makes,” Hill said.
Nearly 80 films were entered into the competition, which is more than they received last year.
Students could enter their work in multiple categories, including narrative short, music video and nonfiction, as well as others.
Awards categories include Zoobie Award for the overall best film, Audience Choice, and Best-of category. The grand prize awarded will be a GoPro camera. There will be prizes for not only students who submitted a film but for audience members as well. Awards will be given out by Garrett Batty, director of “The Saratov Approach.”
The final awards event will be laid back, casual and focused on the students. The event is free and open to any students who like to watch movies and eat free popcorn.
“The name more fully reflects the eager, excited crowd of students who love what they do and who they are — Zoobies,” Hill said.
