Joslyn Plaza will teem with movie-goers on Friday Jan. 21 when the second annual REELSTORIES FilmFestival brings two feature-length documentaries and six student films to silver screens on campus. The student-led event is charged with the principle that stories create reality.
While all attendees will see the six student films showcased at REELSTORIES they will have to choose to view just one of two feature-length documentaries Friday night and both “Waste Land” and “Exit Through the Gift Shop” come critically acclaimed.
“Waste Land” will be shown in Elkins Auditorium. This film is about the beauty and humanity of Brazilian trash-pickers turned artists which won the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. More information about the movie including a trailer can be found at wastelandmovie.com.
Rockwell Auditorium will screen “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” The documentary tells the story of a French shopkeeper and filmmaker who in an attempt to shoot his own movie about British graffiti artist Banksy has the camera turned on himself by the mysterious figure. To find out more about “Exit Through the Gift Shop visit banksyfilm.com.
The six student films being shown Friday have not been announced.
Festival director and senior Susie Lee wrote in an email that she hopes the films will make viewers “walk away with a discussion Perhaps wondering what stories actually do define us currently and if they have the power to alter our future and ways of thought.”
Speaking on behalf of the organizers she wrote: “[W]e really have faith that our audience will be pleasantly surprised awkwardly puzzled and heartedly inspired.”
REELSTORIES FilmFestival is quickly becoming a staple of the year’s student activities. What distinguishes it from other events however is that it is student-conceived and student-organized. It nevertheless manages to bring high-profile guest judges to campus to appraise students’ films.
In accordance with the goals of REELSTORIES this year’s 11 judges know a thing or two about telling stories that don’t merely stay on the screen but remain in the public and critical consciousness.
Jonah Nolan shares writing credit with his brother Christopher for “The Dark Knight The Prestige” and “Memento.”
Pepperdine has two of the judges on staff: Randall Wallace and Tom Shadyac. The former wrote the blockbusters “Braveheart” and “The Man in the Iron Mask and the latter produced and directed Bruce Almighty” and “Patch Adams.”
They are joined by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Roko Belic Adrian Belic and Graeme Clifford; Cale Boyter exective producer of “Elf” and “Wedding Crashers” fame; three-time Vimeo Festival winners Eliot Rausch and Lukas Korver; four-time Emmy award-winner Joseph Sargent and chairman of New Regency Entertainment Hutch Parker.
At last year’s REELSTORIES judges gave out two student awards and viewers voted on one more. The grand prize the REEL Cause award was given to JJ Starr for “Awaken Honduras.” Austin Chapman’s “At the Altar” won Best Cinematography.
Finally former “Randumb Show” regular Pepperdine Improv Troupe veteran and former Graphic columnist Jeff Loveness won the Audience Choice award for his comedy “Tutor.”
This year’s festival promises to be as well attended as the first and Lee has a vision for the future.
“Plans for next year’s REELSTORIES 2012 have actually already been set in motion and with a date already tentatively reserved for Thursday January 27th2012 Lee wrote. We really hope that REELSTORIES will become something that not only sets apart this university as one that challenges the face value of current day media and entertainment but just a phenomenal one night event that brings this campus together.”
Stay tuned next week for further coverage about the award-winners from this year’s festival. The event kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. in Joslyn Plaza. Doors open at both Elkins and Rockwell auditoriums at 6:40. Admission for students is free.