College Town Film Festival makes its return to Athens, coming back for another round of free screenings and speeches for Ohio University students.
College Town Film Festival returns with more films and filmmakers
During this year’s upcoming College Town Film Festival, students can get everything from the chance to meet a man who worked on Monty Python projects to the chance to win airline miles.
Continuing to help independent filmmakers find a wide and dynamic audience, the festival first came to the Athena Cinema last fall. Now, following last year’s success, the series is back for its second round, which is more widespread than before.
“We learned a lot from last year as far as how to divide things and getting the word out, and we have been really instrumental this year about having the students be a part of the activities,” said Eric Zudak, executive director of the College Town Film Festival and alumnus of Ohio University.
Among students involved is Marisa Fiore, a junior studying public relations and publicity member for the College Town Film Festival. Zudak contacted the Public Relations Student Society of America, an organization she is involved with, this year to help them spread the word on all the events and activities happening this year.
“(Zudak) wanted to bring it back because this is his school and this is his place,” Fiore said. “He was able to get five sponsors to the event, so he isn’t paying out of pocket. It is the university that is putting it together.”
Matthew Jordan, president of the Festival’s Board of Directors, said he was pleased with last year’s festival but wants to continue to grow by building relationships.
“The films being shown here are very based a lot on social issues, and I think that every student in OU can get something out of this festival,” Fiore said.
Among the festival’s most alluring events will be the following: Wednesday, there will be a Life of Brian screening, featuring a discussion from Julian Doyle, the movie’s editor, 7 p.m. at the Athena Cinema. Doyle will also be giving a lecture with film professor Annie Howell called “The Editing Process” at 10 a.m. Thursday.
There will also be an “Acting in the Digital Age and Between the Chair and the Door” seminar with actors James Denton (Desperate Housewives), Rane Jameson (Redwood) and Paul Stroili, along with Thom Goff of Breakdown Services and OU Professor of Performance Shelley Delaney, Thursday in the Acting Studio at 2:30 p.m.
“The festival is truly unique in how it highlights that connection between film and the many topics present in classes across the university,” said Scott Titsworth, dean of the Scripps College of Communication and vital part of the festival. “We are thrilled to have such a phenomenal slate of artists come to campus.”
Zudak believes the college environment is the perfect place to have such open and rich conversations, and that is what he hopes students bring when they come to these events.
“We are trying to bring something of value to the school, and while sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t,” Zudak said. “We really hope students come and get the chance to experience what we offer for themselves.”
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