KAN Film Festival's screens move to art center

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 4, 2004 by Bill Blankenship Capital-Journal

By Bill Blankenship

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

LAWRENCE --- The attractions of the Kan Film Festival are coming to a different "theater" this year.

The 13th edition of the oldest film festival in the area shifts to the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire, where 81 films will be shown Saturday, June 5.

The festival is open to Kansas and Missouri student entries from elementary school pupils through collegiate filmmakers. There also is an open division for film professionals from anywhere. The 81 finalists were chosen from 207 entries.

Genres in the competition include documentary, drama, comedy, animation, industrial/education, original and music video. There also is a special category sponsored by the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program for student-produced films with anti- substance abuse messages.

The films will be shown in three locations in the Lawrence Arts Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. when winners will be announced and awards presented.

Admission is free with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.

In addition to the screening of films, the festival will include a presentation by Kansas filmmaker Steve Balderson, whose documentary, "Wamego: Making Movies Anywhere," premiered Thursday night in Overland Park. Balderson will discuss his work and take questions from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Here is Saturday's full schedule of showings:

VENUE 1

Entrance level main auditorium

8:30 a.m. --- Opening remarks

9 a.m. --- College Division: Music Video

"Happy Fun Song" by SOJH (Straight Outta Junior High), Shannon Marie Moran, Coffeyville, Coffeyville Community College

"Hip Hop Hooray" by Happy Endings, Ben Bumgarner, Springfield, Mo., Southwest Missouri State University

"Square 1" by Steve Unruh, Jeremy Osbern, Lawrence, University of Kansas

"You" by Candlebox, Jamie Simerly, St. Joseph, Mo., Missouri Western State College

"The Element Of One" by Killswitch Engage, Adrienne Kenney; ; St. Joseph, Mo.; MWSC

9:35 a.m. --- College Division: Original

"Forging Lines," Ethan McDonald, Lawrence, Ithaca College

"The Passion," Jeremy Osbern, Lawrence, KU

"My Way," Eric Caughey, Lawrence, KU

"Reflect: A Day In The Life," Taylor Sloan, Lawrence, KU

"Moving Things While The Camera's Off," Paul Santos, Shawnee, KU

10:30 a.m. --- College Division: Industrial/Educational

"Free Spirit Butterfly," Katie McRoberts, Overland Park, Avila University

10:45 a.m. --- College Division: Documentary

"The Nuts And Bolts Of Whips And Chains: A Conversation With Contra Naturam," Melissa DuBlois Mairs, Overland Park, KU

"El Jardin," Ranjit Arab, Lawrence, KU

"Missouri Photo Workshop: MPW.55," Benjamin Mihlfeld, Columbia, Mo., University of Missouri

"Ebonics," Sherre Sichko, Overland Park, Avila

Noon to 1 p.m. --- Lunch break

1 p.m. --- College Division: Drama/Comedy

"Overlooked," Ralph L. Matthews, Lawrence, KU

"Xcommunicate," Ben Bumgarner, Springfield, Mo., SMSU

"Ideal," Christopher Blunk, Omaha, Neb., KU

"Foghat Live," Dan Ryckert, Olathe, KU

"Video Game Violence," Jamie Simerly, St. Joseph, Mo., MWSC

2:30 p.m. --- Guest speaker: Steve Balderson, Kansas filmmaker

3:20 p.m. --- Open Division: Original

"Forging Lines," Ethan McDonald, Lawrence

"The Passion," Jeremy Osbern, Lawrence

"Voices," Jason Nez and Benjamin Digman, Kansas City, Mo.

"Cloud Warriors," Henry Bergin and John Bergin, Kansas City, Mo.

4:25 p.m. --- Open Division: Drama/Comedy

"Dale Blackwood School Of Professional Panhandling," Vince Green, Los Angeles

"Chem 102," Jason Bailey, Wichita

"Dreaming Of Reliable Things," Rodrick Pocowatchit, Wichita

"Patterns Of Thread," based on Ray Bradbury's "Embroide," Patrick Rea, Lawrence

"Running," Ty Jones, Lake Winnebago, Mo.

5:15 p.m. --- Awards presentation

VENUE 2

Entrance level small gallery

9 a.m. --- Open Division: Drama/Comedy (over 30 minutes)

"Mind Field," Jason Bailey, Wichita

10:15 a.m. --- Open Division: Industrial/Educational

"Safety:The Very Bad Musical," Jan Hoop, Wichita

"Persecution In Paradise (Indonesia)," Bryan S. Lawler, Bartlesville, Okla.

"Understanding Deep Brain Stimulation," Dan Ginavan, Eudora

"Belize Marine Tropical Research & Education Center," Dr. Robert G. Nulph, St. Joseph, Mo.

"Ebonics," Sherre Sichko, Overland Park

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. --- Lunch break

12:30 p.m. --- Intermediate Division: Documentary

"Bone Battle: The Kennewick Man & Ancient Americans," Ricky McCord, Parma, Mo., Risco R-II School District

"A Sky Full Of Women," Chelsea Walls and Devon Woods, Lilbourn, Mo., Risco R-II

"FEMA: Encountering Disaster, A Nation Prepared," Elisabeth Knutzen and Scott Knutzen, Carl Junction, Mo., Carl Junction Junior High School

"Revolutionizing Exploration: The Forgotten Legacy of Martin & Osa Johnson," Maya Weil, Hilary Spratt and Sara Pace, Lawrence, Central Junior High School

"Kill The Indian, Save The Man," Hannah Frydman and Mulligan Greenwell, Lawrence, Central Junior High

1:40 p.m. --- Intermediate Division: Drama/Comedy

"More Than Meets The Eye," Phillip Garrison, Pleasant Hill, Mo., Pleasant Hill Middle School

"Joker's Wild," Brennan Caldwell and Morgan Dameron, Parkville, Mo., Pembroke Hill