SEF 2016 Student Film Festival
When: 7 p.m., Friday, April 22
Where: Sequim High School Auditorium
Tickets: Suggested $5 donation at the door
More info: Visit www.sequimeducationfoundation.org or call Film Festival chairman Elna Kawal at 683-3027 or email to elna@sequimeducationfoundation.org. A student art show is set for 6-7 p.m., also in auditorium, coinciding with film festival.
Due date: Films are due before 4 p.m., Monday, April 11, in Sequim School District office or Room A4 (Christy Ditlefsen’s) at high school.
Embark on an exploration of happiness with student filmmaker Luke Silliman at this year’s Student Film Festival.
In preparation for the upcoming event slated for Friday, April 22, the Sequim High School sophomore is in the midst of producing his film by delving into the emotion: happiness.
“We’re all born knowing it,” Silliman said.
But, to better understand happiness and the things that trigger it, in his film, Silliman revisits happiness at its early stages by engaging with local youth.
Silliman is just one of many student film enthusiasts polishing their pieces for the 11th annual Sequim Education Foundation Student Film Festival with Sequim high senior Nikole McElhose and junior Seth Mitchell as this year’s hosts.
“You want it (the film) to be perfect,” he said. “In the end you’re always scared when you finish creating something, but that means you did good.”
Silliman participated in the SEF Student Film Festival in 2013, but he hasn’t made a film for the festival since.
Through the festival students like Silliman have an opportunity to apply their creativity and video production skills to create a 5-minute video or less and vie for academic scholarships, as well as cash prizes. Scholarships for filmmakers range from $1,000 for first place, $750 for second to $500 for third. Extra cash prizes may be awarded for additional categories, such as best sound, editing or acting.
Although the films are judged by an appointed panel prior to the public showing, per tradition the audience will be able to select a people’s choice award known as the “Elkie” award.
Leading up to this year’s festival, “There’s a lot of buzz going around,” Elna Kawal, SEF Board vice president and Film Festival chairman, said. “Though, you never know until the deadline what the students are going to come up with, but it’s always pretty incredible.”
In addition to the SEF’s cash prize for the School Club Spirit Award, the nonprofit’s members continue to partner with community organizations. The Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society has sponsored an Environmental Award with a cash prize since the festival first launched 11 years ago. The Sequim Sunrise Rotary also is sponsoring a Community Service Film Award with a cash prize.
“It’s been great to be able to reach out and have other organizations get involved,” Kawal said. “We’re really focusing on connecting kids with adults or peers who are doing volunteerism within the community.”
Aside from the specific categories, however it’s important to note there’s a “general” category, too, Kawal said.
“Many students come up with their own ideas and creative stories and I don’t want to stifle that creativity,” she said.
The festival provides a platform to give positive “recognition” to more students and that is admittedly one of Kawal’s favorite aspects of the annual event.
“It’s creating a venue for the kids to show off their talents and express themselves while learning life skills,” she said.
By the time a student or team of students finishes a film they’ve sharpened their time management, communication and technical skills, Kawal explained, and they have something tangible to show for it.
Also, recognizing more than $50,000 has been awarded to students through the SEF Student Film Festival in the past decade is another reason Kawal remains passionate about the program.
“To know these scholarships help students pursue their future goals is exciting,” she said.
Differing from past years, a fine art show will coincide with the night of the festival. From 6-7 p.m., works of art from Sequim School District students will be on display.
Participating student filmmakers like Silliman are supportive of the fine arts show and film festival running side-by-side.
“I think it’s really cool to be able to showcase the diversity of art that the students are making here,” he said.
As for the art of filmmaking, Silliman helps to inspire it and engage others as president of the newly formed Film Club at Sequim High School. The club, which meets after school every Thursday in Room A4 at the high school, began late last year and is open to both high and middle school students.
“Right now we’re working on claymation,” Silliman said.
The club provides students interested in filmmaking access to equipment and a central place to meet, share ideas and get assistance. As the club grows Silliman would like to focus on collaboration.
“I think it would be really cool to get students working independently on films to come together and collectively work,” he said.
Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.
