Schaumburg's 12th Annual Screen Test Student Fest - April 20-21
SCHAUMBURG'S 12th ANNUAL SCREEN TEST OFFERS 26 SHORT FILMS BY STUDENTS SPANNING THE GLOBE (AND FROM ITS OWN BACKYARD)
Take notice, Hollywood. In an unimposing performing arts center outside of Chicago, a two-day annual film festival fires up its projector and shows a collection of some of the best short films made by grade school and high school students from around here and as far away as India. That festival, Screen Test Student Fest, celebrates its 12th annual installment at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts on April 20 and 21.
For its first year (2007), the festival received 8 submissions, all of which were accepted, shown, and enjoyed by their audience. With the facilitation of online submissions, the number of entries has increased to over 200 in recent years - so has the diversity of its filmmakers (6 out of 7 continents have been represented in the fest).
Although the broadening of borders for submissions has been more recent, the program has enjoyed one consistency throughout its history: the high quality of films being shown. "Even before going international, we ran a very strong festival, which can only be attributed to the young filmmaking talent in the area," says the Prairie Center's Rob Pileckis, who also coordinates the fest. "And local students are still sending us great films, even when compared to projects submitted from throughout the U.S. and overseas." More than one of the films from the Friday local event will also be competing in the Saturday International Festival.
Also of note is the return of Shane Madej, a former employee of the Prairie Center who has since gained a massive following as a video personality for Buzzfeed. Two of Madej's online series, "Unsolved Mysteries, and "Ruining History," have racked up over 200 million views on YouTube. Madej will join the fest as cohost for the Saturday evening International High School Competition.
26 short films will be shown over three events at the fest.
Screen Test Local Fest
Short Films by Area High School Students
Friday, April 20 -- 7:30 pm
6:30 pm Red Carpet Reception
A 2017 Visual
Nonfiction, 2 min, 37 sec.
Written and Directed by: Jackson Wigger
Naperville, IL
A year in review through the eyes and lens of a young filmmaker.
Cash Up Front
Drama, 1 min, 40 sec.
Written and Directed by: Mike Krane
Naperville, IL
A ransom payment goes awry.
Ci3 Game Changer Chicago Design Lab
NonFiction, 2 min, 3 sec.
Directed by: Amariona Ballard, Kinyada Craine, Perrione Reed, and Yasmeen Scott
Produced by: Free Spirit Media
Chicago, IL
Filmmakers from Free Spirit Media travel to Chicago Design Lab to explore creative and fun ways to raise awareness for sexual and reproductive health.
Dear Mr. Beethoven
Experimental, 5 min
Written and Directed by: Naomi Keane
Naperville, IL
A short film exploring how a young, deaf composer struggles to keep his passion alive without hearing the piano and his music, narrated through his letters to Beethoven.
A Doorway's Past
Experimental, 3 min. 5 sec.
Directed by: Maggie Jakopac
Written by: Noah Festenstein
Elk Grove Village, IL
A young man packing for college comes across a Polaroid from 4 years ago and begins to reminisce on the significant memories made in that one room.
How to Be a Man
Documentary, 4 min. 49 sec.
Directed by: Elsa Concepcion and Jocelyn Hernandez
Produced by: Community TV Network
Elk Grove Village, IL
A short documentary that examines our perceptions of masculinity and gender roles, and asks the question: "What does it mean to be a man?"
If You Asked Me
Experimental, 3 min. 48 sec.
Written and Directed by: Hannah Ignacio
Palatine, IL
An exploration into outwardly appearances and how they can conflict with self-worth.
Make Believe
Comedy, 2 min. 25 sec.
Written and Directed by: Armin Nikravan and Matthew Ryan Thomas
Naperville, IL
Some kids play by the rules. Some don't.
Red
Drama, 1 min. 19 sec.
Written and Directed by: Emma Raby
Palatine, IL
A young woman gets ready to go out to take care of some unfinished business.
Sequential
Experimental, 5 min. 24 sec.
Written and Directed by: Teddy Holcomb
Chicago, IL
A man is transported into an arcade game and is led through a sequence of events by a mysterious orb.
The Unknown
Horror, 6 min. 16 sec.
Written and Directed by: Bree Cwik
Schaumburg, IL
A boy wanders a little too far from home and finds himself lost in the woods. As he tries to navigate his way through he finds that he may not be alone.
To be awarded:
Best in Show - $300
2nd Place - $200
3rd Place - $100
Audience Award - $100
At least one of the evening's film (including the Best in Show) will advance to the International High School Festival on Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 pm.
Screen Test Jr.
For Students in Grades 3-8
Saturday, April 22 -- 11 am
10 am Doughnut and Bagel Reception
The Dragon Forest
Animation, 9 min.
Written and Directed by: Richard Bjurström
Solna, Sweden
The fox, the elk and the dragon live peacefully in their forest. One day a challenger comes to disturb the peace.
Lilly and the Baby
Animation, 6 min. 31 sec.
Written and Directed by The Bum Family
Maezy, Medina and Zaiyah Dennie, and Berlin, Ocean and Sol Demuth
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Lilly, a 10-foot tall orange monster, babysits a human baby. The mom leaves a long list of what not to do. What could go wrong?
The Lone Wolf
Animation, 3 min.
Written and Directed by: Ava Phillips
Austin, TX
A young pup seeks love in a cold place.
Road to the NBA
Non-fiction, 5 min. 53 sec.
Directed by: Izzy Watts
Maricopa, AZ
A look at a young hopeful who has set a high bar for himself in the sport of basketball.
Try Your Best
Music Video, 4 min. 50 sec.
Written and Directed by: The Fugleflick Filmmakers.
Anne Lagowski, Bridger Altschuler, Eli Merz, Filip Sowa, Gabi Picicco, Grant Sluder, Keith Ekl, Lucy Neumann, Madeline Painter, Mia Spotak, Olivia Quinn, Travis Stembel
Advised by Tricia Fuglestad
Arlington Heights, IL
The Dryden Fifth Grade Fugleflick Filmmakers present an original song to inspire everyone to shift their thinking from can't to can.
All filmmakers will attend to represent their films, either in person or via live internet video call.
To be awarded: Best in Show - $100
International High School Competition
Saturday, April 21 -- 7:30 pm
6:30 pm Red Carpet Dessert Reception
Hosted by
Rob Pileckis, Prairie Center for the Arts and Special Guest Cohost Shane Madej, Buzzfeed
Agincourt
Historical Drama, 9 min, 59 sec.
Directed by: Malcolm Silver-Van Meter
Written by: Malcolm Silver-Van Meter
Wheaton, IL
Agincourt" follows two Jewish-American soldiers stationed in Northern France in 1944. The film plays out in a series of vignettes, much of the narration drawn directly from Shakespeare's play.
Authentic
Experimental, 3 min. 56 sec.
Directed by: Sophia Wang
Markham, Ontario, Canada
Are you, you? The film shows the journey within one's self to answer that question, using visual metaphors and ghostly figures.
In the Trees
Horror, 8 min.
Written and Directed by: Will Nordstrom
Los Angeles, CA
A young man struggles with the space between the domestic magic of childhood and the sometimes unbearable wilderness of adulthood.
Jasmine Stung
Drama, 5 min.
Written and Directed by: Partho Gupte
Mumbai, India
A 10 year old child worker trying to sell jasmine flower strings on a hot and busy Mumbai street, in the hope of getting his little sister her first meal of the day.
Old Bloo
Comedy, 9 min. 59 sec.
Written and Directed by: Jack Nordstrom
Los Angeles, CA
Idaho teenagers starting an unconventional rock band in their garage are put to the test when hardships arise.
Solitude
Drama, 3 min. 37 sec.
Directed by: Julia Bhansali
Written by: Julia Bhansali and Maddie Gall
Madison, MS
In 1944 one woman is forced to face the harsh realities of war and experience the true meaning of solitude.
Still Love
Thriller, 4 min. 46 sec.
Directed by: Alexander Puga and Monica Matute
Written by: Alexander Puga
Miami, FL
After attending constant unsuccessful therapy sessions, a young woman struggles to understand why she would be forced by her parents to get help over a relationship her sister had.
Trejur
Animation, 9 min. 20 sec.
Written Directed by: Thomas Kim
Concord, MA
A modern woman remembers her wretched, toy-giving grandmother in this dark, fantasy animation.
Also on the program... films from the Friday's Local Fest which have advanced to the International program. Selected films will be announced at Screen Test Local Fest on Friday, April 20.
Tickets for the festival start at $5. Receptions are included with admission. Popcorn for all screenings, as always, is free.
Tickets or more information is available by calling 847-895-3600 or visiting www.screenteststudentfest.org.
The Prairie Center is located at 201 Schaumburg Ct., Schaumburg, IL.
Title sponsor for Screen Test Student Fest is 3 Monkeys and Aardvark Studios. Screen Test Student Fest is a program of the Village of Schaumburg.