By Annette Arceneaux
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Community College of Baltimore County is hosting its fifth annual film fest on Tuesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Lounge.
The free event, sponsored by the CCBC film society, is screening 13 films from student filmmakers around Baltimore. This year CCBC invited student filmmakers from MICA, the University of Baltimore, UMBC, Towson University and Stevenson University.
“Opening it up to other schools is really important because students will be given the opportunity to network with the community,” said Beth Baunoch, an assistant professor and film society advisor at CCBC. “They can maybe become professionals by building a community of filmmakers in Baltimore.”
A total of 18 films were submitted, all under 10 minutes in length, that vary in genre from animation to drama. Some of the films are about newsworthy issues like domestic and alcohol abuse.
Brett Maul, a photographer and art education major at CCBC, knew he wanted to submit a film as soon as he saw the poster on campus. His film, “Lenny ‘Lens’ Garrett – Professional Photographer,” is a lighthearted comedy about a professional photographer with a passion for nature photography. Maul says the character’s lines were improvised before or during the
production of the film.
“I am hoping to be inspired to create more film and art,” Maul said. “But my main goal is to make everyone laugh at least once.”
Maul is excited to showcase his first film where he will receive feedback from a large audience. He said he’s also glad to have the chance to share his name with others who share similar passions.
“This is giving a lot of students from CCBC an opportunity to show their work to fellow students and other students outside of CCBC,” said Angel Anderson, a performing-arts major and president of the CCBC film society. “It gives the community a chance to see what colleges are producing and what independent student film makers are coming out with.”
The event includes a contest with a panel of judges with four $100 prizes for the categories in best direction, best production, best screen play and the audience’s chosen favorite.
Some of the filmmakers will transfer to the schools that they are competing with at the festival.
“I think this is really important for our students and as a community college for them to be competing with films from MICA, Stevenson and Towson, to have this experience is really unique for them,” Baunoch said.
Guests of the event will have the chance to speak with the filmmakers during a Q&A session after the screening of the films as well as at the reception with a taco bar, popcorn and cake. The reception is free for all attendees.
“People should go in with an open mind,” Anderson said. “Like with anything artistic, I think they’ll really enjoy themselves that way.”