Six student films featured

Six short films produced in the School of Communications' annual Summer Film Project will be featured in one fun and thought-provoking evening on Thursday, February 12. The Student Film Festival will be held 7-10 p.m. at the Loosemore Auditorium of the DeVos Center, 401 W. Fulton St. Admission is free.

Featured are films produced in the past six Summer Film Projects, annual summer classes in which students shoot, edit, and produce a complete film, usually between 20 and 35 minutes in length. The screenplay for the movie is selected through an annual, nationwide contest.

Directing the 12-week Summer Film Project is John Harper Philbin, associate professor in GVSU's School of Communications. In the past two years, students have also benefited from the expertise of Hollywood actor James Karen and cinematographer Jack Anderson, who each spent six weeks or more working with students on the summer films. At least one of the films, 'The Freezer Jesus,' has garnered awards at several Michigan film festivals and in November it was accepted into the International Film Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The six films explore a wide variety of topics and range from coming-of-age stories to comedies:

Flickering Blue (2003, 23 minutes) A lonely old man turns off his TV and ventures out on a walk through the city in hopes of reconnecting with people.

The Freezer Jesus (2002, 32 minutes) A farmer's wayward son comes home after many years away. Meanwhile, seekers flock to see the image of Christ that appears on a neighbor's porch freezer.

The Lucas Files (2001, 29 minutes) A 10-year-old boy turns sleuth to track down the hit-and-run driver who killed his dog.

With You Always (2000, 35 minutes) A suspicious wife dabbles in black magic in order to spy on her husband.

Survival of the Fattest (1999, 18 minutes) Four hungry castaways are shipwrecked on a desert island.

My Life Among the Gopis (1998, 38 minutes) Three 15-year-old schoolgirls form a secret club based on Hindu art and religion.

The Student Film Fest is presented by Grand Valley's School of Communications in celebration of its 20-year anniversary. For more information on anniversary events and speakers, see the SOC Web site or call (616) 331-3668.