2nd Annual ASU Student Short Film Festival & Competition

TEMPE, Ariz. – ASU student filmmakers who dream of seeing their creations on the big screen once again have their shot, as the ASU Herberger College School of Theatre and Film hosts its second annual student short film festival and competition. The event is April 30 at the Harkins Valley Art Theatre in downtown Tempe.

One dozen short films are featured that explore all facets of student interest, from animation to live action, narrative to documentary. Another feature of the evening is the Under-Five-Minute Film Competition, sponsored by the ASU Student Filmmakers Association (AFA). A $500 cash prize is presented by the AFA to a winner who is chosen by the audience. Rounding out the event is a non-competitive showcase of the breadth of energy found in today’s talented student filmmakers.

“Filmmaking is exploding in Arizona,” says F. Miguel Valenti, assistant director of film in the School of Theatre and Film and the program’s architect. “ASU's new film and media production program is designed to train talented filmmakers so they are well equipped to make their mark in the industry, here and elsewhere.” ASU's program is the first in the nation to incorporate the ethical considerations of the artistic endeavor of filmmaking. “We're teaching students not just how to pick up the camera,” Valenti says. “We are encouraging them to think about why they should become filmmakers.”

Tickets are $7 and available in advance through the Herberger College box office in the Nelson Fine Arts Center on the ASU Tempe campus, or by calling 480.965.6447. Tickets also can be purchased at the theatre door the night of the event. The festival is 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Harkins Valley Art Theatre, 505 S. Mill Ave. in downtown Tempe. For more information, contact Miguel Valenti at 480.965.2655, or F.Valenti@asu.edu.

The Herberger College School of Theatre and Film provides a comprehensive range of courses in performance and directing; design and production; new work development; theatre and performance studies; film; and theatre for youth. Its Theatre for Youth program is nationally ranked in the top three and the creative writing/playwriting program is ranked 15th among public institutions by “U.S. News & World Report.” Learn more about the School of Theatre and Film at: theatre.asu.edu.