Students, faculty present short films at Central Michigan International Film Festival
In the dimly-lit Park Library auditorium, students, community members, and filmmakers alike witnessed the product of human creativity and artistic talent in the form of short films.
Six stories were presented at the Central Michigan International Film Festival event, and each displayed drastically different concepts and tones, ranging from animated comedies to a serious look at race relations.
The films included:
And Mirrors by Nick Stumphauzer
- Magic and poker took center stage as this film examined the necessity of a professional magician to use his slight-of-hand skills to win enough dirty poker money to pay for his comatose mother’s hospital bills and his rent.
Ninety-Six Days by Kathryn Loesel
- A study-abroad trip to the United Kingdom resulted in this montage of five-second clips. The simple beauties of a foreign country and the producer’s experiences were showcased through the nature, architecture, and foods displayed to only the beat of music.
Stay Woke by Langston Williams
- Williams told the story of a fictional African-American teenager, a candidate for the town’s mayor, and a Caucasian police officer on his first day of work. Political tensions, the Black Lives Matter movement, and other racially-charged themes were examined as the teenager is shot dead by the police officer and the names of African-Americans who have been killed were listed before the end credits.
Left to Right by Will Anderson
- CMU professor Will Anderson’s radio drama was adapted to an animated film revolving around a caricature of Justin Bieber, who is involved in a variety of different illegal, comedic adventures involving politics and money.
Tuman Effect by Nancy McCauley Branstetter and NMB Communications
- This tribute to public speaker Jim Tuman took the form of a documentary, displaying the impact the energetic 76-year-old had on the lives of thousands of children and teenagers since the year 1988, when he began spreading his message of love and bullying prevention.
North Branch by Andrew Morgan and Nick Nummerdor
- Jerry Kellogg and his brother, Jeff, were experts at canoe paddling and racing. The film documented the Kellogg brothers’ experiences and success in the 119.6-mile canoe marathon that left their names among those in the Au Sable Canoe Hall of Fame, along with paying tribute to Jeff and letting his legacy be known.
“It was constantly captivating,” senior Tyler Eavey said about his favorite film of the event, “North Branch.”
Jerry Kellogg, the film’s star, was also able to attend the showing, and spoke about his and his brothers’ achievements.
This event was all about showcasing different perspectives, ideas, stories, and experiences cinematically, and touched on some subjects with untouched or controversial elements.
“If you say it the right way, you can get anybody to listen,” Eavey said.
