Cinema Arts Centre to Host Huntington H.S. Film Festival

Huntington High School’s 3rd Annual Film Festival will put aspiring teenage filmmakers in the limelight. The Cinema Arts Centre will host the special evening on Tuesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. Tickets are not required. Entire families are welcome to attend. Admission is free.

A production of Huntington’s video club, the festival will include music videos, commercials, documentaries, silent 8MM film, 2D/live action, Rotoscope, short stories, stop motion, public service announcements, art movement and multi-cam works.

After two years in the Huntington High School auditorium, the festival is moving to a larger stage after the Cinema Arts Centre extended an invitation to Huntington art teacher Heather Swan, who heads the school’s computer arts program.

“The students are really excited about having their high school film festival at a professional theater,” said Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts. “The Cinema Arts Center has been the host to many special film events and recently hosted the First Exposure Film Festival, which our Huntington students have been honored to participate in. They are being very generous to open the theater for our use at no cost to the district.”

Huntington’s filmmakers have won numerous awards in festivals and contests around the metropolitan area in recent years. Some of this year’s top videos are posted on the school district’s website at www.hufsd.edu/arts/art_videos.html.

Viewers are sometimes surprised at the high quality of the student films. The teenagers often produce works that are provocative, funny, poignant, tear-jerking and more often than not, downright impressive. The camera work, acting and editing are frequently exceptional.

The May 29 festival will showcase the “best-of-the-best” and include about 60 minutes of student productions. DVDs of the Festival will be available for $10.

“Our filmmakers can’t wait to share their work with the community,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said.