It is that time of the year when students and teachers are wrapping up the final semester before summer. Their days are stressful, and it feels like they can’t get a break. Luckily, there is a free event coming to Normal that should relieve this stress.
Film director and Assistant Professor Dr. Andrew Ventimiglia is excited to announce the first year of the soon-to-be annual Foxtail Film Festival. Located in the heart of Normal, the Foxtail Film Festival accepts film entries from high school and university students from anywhere in three categories: narrative, documentary, and animation.
The festival will take place at the Normal Theatre April 27-29. Everyone is invited to the event, and the price is free. There will be one block of competition films, one block of Illinois State University films, and one night dedicated to professional filmmakers.
Ventimiglia anticipates that some filmmakers will be there to talk more specifically about their films and their experiences creating them. This event is especially beneficial to students who are interested in media, filmmaking, entertainment, event management, public relations, and marketing. It will give students the opportunity to see what it takes to put on an official community event.
This year, Ventimiglia led a class at Illinois State called COM 334: Film Festival Management and Curation, dedicated to filmmaking and, particularly, planning and hosting film festivals. The class gives students the opportunity to put on the Foxtail Film Festival each year.
“I am excited to see the festival come together and view the films on a big screen with students who put in the work,” Ventimiglia said. “The festival is mainly student-run, and I am proud of the students who dedicated their time and hard work to make it happen.”.
There will be awards given to the best films created by high school and university students in the three categories: narrative, documentary, and animation.
Screenings and events are being held in the late evening, according to the festival’s schedule.
