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Three AETN 'Student Selects' films to be screened in 'Made in Arkansas' competition at Little Rock Film Festival

Posted 07 May 2015

Three films from the Arkansas Educational Television Network's (AETN) 'Student Selects: A Young Filmmakers Showcase' have been chosen for screening in the Little Rock Film Festival's (LRFF) 'Made in Arkansas' competition. The festival will be held May 11-17.

Now in its ninth year, 'Student Selects' is an annual event that grants kindergarten through 12th grade student filmmakers the opportunity to submit their film and video handiwork for possible broadcast on AETN, streaming on aetn.org and screening at the LRFF and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF). 'Made in Arkansas' showcases the best of Arkansas films and filmmakers, and this is the first time student films have been considered for the competition.

'Student Select' films chosen for 'Made in Arkansas' are:

• 'Loser,' directed by Andrew Lisle of Har-Ber High School in Springdale. This film follows two brothers through high school as they learn that bullying impacts everyone differently, forcing them to choose deadly consequences.
• 'Pyro,' directed by Cole Borgstadt of Fayetteville High School. This film tells the story of a mild pyromaniac boy and his older brother as they struggle to adapt to changes after the death of their parents.
• 'Go to the Ball With Me, Jenny,' also directed by Borgstadt. This film is a video invitation made by a quirky 16-year-old boy to ask a girl in his language arts class to their school's winter ball.

AETN is again partnering with the LRFF to host LRFF YOUTH! student filmmaking workshops and screenings May 12-13. This program allows middle and high school students the opportunity to learn from the state's best filmmakers, meet the nation's finest storytellers, screen their own films, and be part of the state's fastest growing film festival.

The LRFF YOUTH! schedule Tuesday, May 12, includes:

• Props: Concept to Creation, 10 a.m. to noon at the Argenta Innovation Hub. This session is an exploration of sources, tools, materials and techniques in the 21st century. Presented by Joel Gordon.
• Interactive Filmmaking Workshop: Visual Storytelling, 2-3 p.m. at the Argenta Innovation Hub. This session will teach techniques for using the camera as a narrator and provide guidelines for fundamental cinematic language. Presented by Jen Gerber.
• AETN 'Student Selects' film screenings, 3:30-5 p.m. at the Ron Robinson Theatre. This screening features a selection of the best youth films made in Arkansas, including the THEA Foundation scholarship winning films.
• 'Made in Arkansas' film screening, 5:30 p.m. at the Ron Robinson Theatre. This screening is a special presentation for LRFF YOUTH!

On Wednesday, May 13, LRFF YOUTH! participants will work with a team of professionals on a hands-on experimental project in a one day intensive workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students will learn to set the stage for a scene, light the scene, work with the creative and technical aspects of cinematography, and work with a director and professional actors to shoot a scene.

Students interested in participating in the two-day program should contact Casey Sanders, AETN producer and LRFF YOUTH! and education coordinator, at csanders@aetn.org.

AETN 'Student Selects' partners include THEA Foundation, the Arkansas Humanities Council, Arkansas Film Commission, LRFF, HSDFF and Arkansas Motion Picture Institute.

The Little Rock Film Festival takes place each spring in the historic River Market District. The festival showcases the best in narrative, documentary and short films from around the world and promotes Arkansas filmmakers through a dedicated program of film screenings, panels, workshops and youth programs.

The Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) is Arkansas's statewide public television network that enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. AETN delivers local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers. AETN depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. For more information, visit aetn.org, or follow the AETN blog at aetn.org/engage. AETN is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), and KETZ (El Dorado).