UBCO gearing up to host 8th annual Student Okanagan Film Festival

Young filmmakers across the region will showcase their work at the eighth annual Student Okanagan Film Festival next week.

The event at the Mary Irwin Theatre at the Rotary Centre for the Arts on Monday, May 6, will feature an array of short films covering a wide range of genres.

And while the event is put on by UBC Okanagan’s faculty of creative and critical studies, it will include films from students at local high schools, colleges and, of course, UBCO.

“We are looking forward to going through all the submissions to choose the final selections for the festival,” said Myron Campbell, a UBCO visual arts professor said last week.

“Last year, we awarded two filmmakers in animation and live-action, and we are excited to see what films we will get to decide on the specific award categories for this year.”

Campbell co-organizes the event with fellow UBCO faculty members Michael V Smith and Daniel Keyes.

A panel of jurors, which includes UBCO faculty members and student volunteers, determined which submissions will make up the film festival.

Campbell says the annual event is a great opportunity for students to showcase their films on the big screen.

“It’s also a fantastic chance for them to receive public recognition and connect with other filmmakers which can open doors to future opportunities and collaborations,” he added.

The screening at the Mary Irwin Theatre on Monday begins at 7 pm and is open to the public, with admission by donation and proceeds going back into the festival programming for future years.