On Campus News

Each year, Slamdance Film Festival celebrates the progress and efforts of independent filmmaking. This year, the festival will include numerous cinematic successes of Columbia filmmakers on its roster.

Director/producer Victor Hugo Duran (3rd year Directing) will bring his short, Fireworks, to this year's festival. Fireworks centers around two friends on a quest to impress a group of girls in South Los Angeles. Duran worked in collaboration with writer/editor/producer Kevin James McMullin (3rd year Directing), cinematographer John Wakayama Carey (3rd year Producing), co-producer Hannah Janal (3rd year Producing), and associate producers Brandon Zuck (3rd year Producing) and Lily Buttons (3rd year Producing).

Also in competition is Shale, written and directed by Jed Cowley ('12 SOA). Cowley's vision was achieved with the help of producer Michele De Caro ('12 SOA), co-producer Alvaro R. Valente (4th year Producing), associate producer Esra Saydam ('11 SOA) and still photographer Christopher Laszlo (4th year Producing). Shale follows the confrontation between John, a shale pit owner, and his wife, Sheila.

What Isn't There (Ang Nawawala), co-written and directed by Marietta Jamora ('05 SOA), will screen during the festival in the Best Narrative Feature category. The film tells the story of Gibson once he returns home to Manila and begins to redefine his interpersonal relationships.

Film alumna Kristie Lutz ('10 SOA) co-produced two films featured in the 2013 lineup: Hank and Asha, the story of love blossoming through video correspondence, and Milkshake.

The 19th Annual Slamdance Film Festival takes place January 18-24, 2013.

Resources:

http://www.arts.columbia.edu