Schaumburg Student Film Fest adds scholarship to 19th annual event
The Screen Test Student Fest, a Midwest-based festival showcasing short films by student filmmakers, has added a new scholarship award to its lineup of cash prizes for its 19th annual event.
The festival will take place April 10-11 at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg. The deadline to submit films and scholarship applications is Feb. 9.
Sponsored by the Prairie Center Arts Foundation, the newly established Rob Pileckis Film and Theatre Scholarship will award $1,000 to a high school senior planning to continue their studies in film or video. According to Tiana Weiler, Schaumburg’s director of cultural services and executive director of the foundation, the scholarship underscores the organization’s long-term investment in youth arts programming at the Prairie Center.
“The scholarship reflects the foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting young artists,” Weiler said.
The foundation also offers scholarships for other youth programs, including the Schaumburg Youth Orchestra, Dance Ensemble, Summer Theatre and the Schaumburg Choral Program.
The scholarship is named in honor of retired Prairie Center Assistant Director Rob Pileckis, who developed and coordinated both the Screen Test Student Fest and the Prairie Center’s summer theater program.
The scholarship recipient will be announced during the Screen Test Local Fest on Friday, April 10, which features student films produced in the Schaumburg area. Two additional finalists will each receive a $100 tuition stipend to support continued study in film or video production.
Applicants must be high school seniors living within 30 miles of Schaumburg; all Chicago residents are eligible. In addition to completing an online application, students must submit a video of up to 60 seconds describing their interest in film and video production. Submissions will be evaluated on creativity, production quality and overall impact.
The festival is also accepting short films of 10 minutes or less for screening at the April 10 event. Selected films will compete for $700 in total cash prizes. The top film will advance to the Screen Test International High School Competition on Saturday, April 11.
Younger students may submit projects for Screen Test Jr., a companion program for elementary and junior high filmmakers. Selected entries will be shown during a live online event on April 11.
More information about Screen Test Student Fest and the Rob Pileckis Film and Theatre Scholarship is available at screenteststudentfest.org.
Screen Test Student Fest is a program of the village of Schaumburg.