Seven students enrolled in Fredonia’s Visual Arts and New Media's Film and Video Arts program had the honor of having their works screened at the national Student Experimental Film Festival held Dec. 5 and 6 at Binghamton University.
Nine of the 49 films accepted at the festival were from Fredonia, which had the most films selected from among 21 colleges and universities from across the United States.
"I am very proud of our students’ accomplishments," said Phil Hastings, associate professor, Visual Arts and New Media. "There are a number of very strong film and video programs represented at this festival. It is very encouraging to know that the work we do at Fredonia in the Film and Video Arts program is just as strong as some of the other well-known and respected programs."
Fredonia students and their films included:
Kayla Batson, junior, “The Reaction of Containment” and “Understanding a Spider’s Web;” Jason Chadwick, senior, “Wax;” Megan Lewandowski, “Freeze;” Jaryd Petroski, senior, “Tao;" Ben Roggie, senior, “Flat Circle;" Ben Searle, junior, “Microcosmos;” and “Niche;" and Rhiannon Vercant, senior, “Carbon Black."
“In the Film and Video Arts program, we strive to create compelling work that moves an audience that speaks to the viewer on many different levels. Often people don't know what experimental film is about; they think it is difficult, strange or simply inaccessible,” Hastings explained. “We try to make work that people can connect to. It is the difference between poetry and prose."
For many students this was the first time they submitted work to a festival. Six of the seven Fredonia students are majoring in Visual Arts and New Media; Petroski is a Theatre and Dance major.
Film and Video Arts is one of seven studio art programs within the department of Visual Arts and New Media.
