Spring is a season of emergence and renewal around the globe, but here at the University it has some unique connotations: the return of public exposure on the Lawn, boozing it up at horse races and the Salmagundi Film Festival.
Since its conception 12 years ago, Salmagundi has been helping to spread interest in student filmmaking at the University. Hosted by the Filmmakers' Society, it is a great opportunity to become exposed to the more creative side of student activity and to learn a great deal about the film medium itself.
There will be a few changes to the festival's organization this year. Instead of the separate "short shorts" and "long shorts" programs as in previous years, the "short" program has been expanded, pushing the maximum entry time to 15 minutes and replacing the "long" program. The shorts will be screened both Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in Newcomb Hall Theater.
As usual, there will be a number of special events to go along with the usual film programs. Following Friday night's shorts program, there will be a special free screening of "The Write Note," fourth-year student Gretel Truong's thesis film.
Saturday's program will include a free screening of "The Stone Carvers" at 2 p.m. in the Kaleidoscope Center for Cultural Fluency in Newcomb Hall. "Carvers" is a 1984 Oscar and Emmy-winning documentary by Charlottesville resident filmmaker Paul Wagner, who will follow up the film with a Q&A session. Saturday will also include a free panel discussion with film industry professionals at 4 p.m. in the Kaleidoscope Center, where students may come to learn more about the film industry.
The festival will continue the candy theme that was introduced last year, representing the event's fun atmosphere and the diversity of the films being presented. The shorts programs will be accompanied by a free candy buffet.
But Salmagundi is really about the films. The primary shorts program will include, but is not limited to:
"Gerry Mitchell: 3,164 Miles," a documentary about the titular local artist and recent victim of the law, by Christina Tkacik; "Gemini," an experimental short that emphasizes dreamlike performance and beautifully saturated color, by Lauren O'Conner; "Rubber Ducky," a bizarre narrative ripe with Lynchian surrealism, by Konstantin Brazhnik; "Edie," a visually enthralling abstract art film, by Jonney Taee and "Tonight," a brief narrative completed in a single meandering shot, by Steven Quinn & Jed Crews.
The awards ceremony will be held Saturday following the Shorts Program and Q&A session. Awards include Best in Show, Audience Award, Ken Jacobs Experimental Film Award and Cavalier Films Narrative Film Award. Admission is $5 at the door. 3
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