Campus MovieFest showcases 16 films

The Buskirk Chumley Theater erupted in laughter as an Obama impersonator sat onscreen questioning why the “cheap” audience was at the Campus MovieFest instead of at a real movie theater, stimulating the economy.

The Campus MovieFest and IU Union Board premiered 16 student-made movies Thursday at the Buskirk. Although the festival premiered 16 movies, many more were entered into the competition.

“There was record of 111 teams that entered into the competition,” Vijay Makar, founder of Campus MovieFest, said. “An average of 1,400 students were involved in all of these teams. A panel of IU’s students and faculty chose which 16 would premiere.”

The movies had to be less than five minutes and include no frontal nudity. There were no other restrictions on the producers, allowing them full creativity, Makar said.

Many students sat anxiously, waiting to see if their movie would premiere. Sophomore Charlie Mattingly was one of the students awaiting his unpromised premiere.

“My friends and I always make movies, so when we saw that the Campus MovieFest was here, it was an easy decision,” Mattingly said. “I’m excited at even the thought that I get to see my film on screen.”

Student producers were not the only ones awaiting their films. Actors in the films sat in the theater, hoping their face would come across the screen.

“My roommate asked me to be in his film,” sophomore Kolby Harrell said. “After I said ‘yes,’ I was at his mercy. So hopefully the work paid off and I’ll get to see myself on screen.”

Whether or not one’s film premieres, the event was enjoyable, said sophomore Nicole Zausmer.

“The diversity of each story is amazing,” Zausmer said. “Some of the ideas I would never have thought of. For instance, who would think of super villains in a office setting? Hilarious!”

Various films were shown, ranging from super villains to a story of “coming out.” Each film was captivating in its own way, junior Dana DeBowles said.

“Everyone has a story,” Makar said. “We started this as sophomore students in Atlanta. We wanted to give a new medium for students to express themselves, and this group expressed themselves in various ways.”

At the end of the event, films were chosen for best drama, best comedy and best film. The winners won an iPod shuffle and Final Cut pro software and were entered into the National Grand Finale at the Lincoln Center in New York.