Prairie Center for the Arts events

For information, call (847) 895-3600.

Screen Test Student Fest:ŒThere's still time for students to crank out that short film gem and submit it for Schaumburg's second annual Screen Test Student Fest. The deadline for submissions is Friday.

Applications with full details can be downloaded at prairiecenter.org or picked up at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg.

Film and video projects with a maximum running time of 15 minutes and made by students in fifth through 12th grades are eligible for the festival.

As for content, the sky's the limit, according to Rob Pileckis the Prairie Center's production supervisor, who coordinates the festival.

"Last year's fest featured eight films varying from computer animations to experimental works and even a musical performed by paint brushes," Pileckis said.

The musical, "Young Sloppy Brush," written and directed by a fifth-grade class at Dryden Elementary School in Arlington Heights, went on to be screened at the Chicago Children's International Film Festival and the Kids for Kids Festival in Naples, Italy.

The Screen Test Student Fest will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 and 14 at the Schaumburg Prairie Center.

Cash prizes of $100 will be awarded to selected projects in each category. Third, second and best of show prizes -- valued at $100, $150, and $250 respectively -- will also be awarded.

Businesses and organizations can also get involved with Screen Test through a variety of festival sponsorships offered. For as little as $200, a business can be listed as an award sponsor on certificates presented to students at the festival. Sponsorship applications can be downloaded at prairiecenter.org.

For more information, regarding the festival, call Pileckis at (847) 923-3607.