What: UNT Media Arts Festival, an event to showcase and celebrate the works of University of North Texas students including films, screenplays, and audio work.
When: Thursday, March 31 - Saturday, April 2
Where: Various locations in Denton (listed below).
Cost: Free.
DENTON, Texas (UNT) Film screenings, screenplay readings, and panels with media industry professionals will all be a part of the UNT Media Arts Festival Thursday, March 31, through Sunday, April 2, 2016. The new festival offers UNT students an opportunity to network and to showcase their projects.
"Students in the Media Arts department are producing some amazing award-winning work in news, television, film, screenplays and audio," said Carla Carter, Media Arts lecturer and festival coordinator. "The idea for this festival came as a way to celebrate their work and allow others to see it and experience it outside of the department."
All undergraduate or graduate students at UNT were invited to submit projects through Feb. 15, and submissions were being judged by industry professionals and Media Arts graduate students. Categories include Daily News, Documentary, Animation, and Screenwriting, among others. Media Arts graduate students have also had a hand in putting the festival together.
"Tuarean Hodge and Cyuzuzo Ingabire have been instrumental in the planning of this festival, from visiting classes and helping to get the word out for student submissions to viewing venues and coordinating and executing festival activities," Carter said.
She also said the festival is a way to teach students how to get their work featured at festivals and other venues.
"As a professional in this field, getting your work out there is crucial," Carter said. "Just like the saying about a tree falling in the forest and no one is around, I feel that if you make a piece of media, and no one sees it, does it exist? I want to encourage students to show their work to others. This is also crucial in career building. Potential jobs want to see that your work has been screened in public venues and in festivals."
The festival kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 at the Radio, TV, Film and Performing Arts (RTFP) Building, 1179 Union Circle, with opening day festivities that include screenings of student productions, a mix and mingle session in an RTFP studio, and a question and answer session with the artists.
At 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, at UNT on the Square Gallery, 109 N. Elm Street, there will be a panel discussion lead by industry professionals, a staged reading of the festival's winning screenplay, and a showcase of students' experimental works.
Screenings of students' projects will continue at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, in the Lyceum at the University Union, 1155 Union Circle, and will be followed by an awards ceremony. Ingabire said that with more than 100 submissions, the festival is guaranteed to provide a variety of content and will offer an exciting experience to attendees.
"I think it's great when your friends, family-friends and your family have the chance to see your work, and you get to share with them something you've worked hard for and love," Ingabire said. "Everyone should attend to have some fun, watch great works and maybe learn a thing or two about media arts."
The festival is free to the public.