WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 7
FILM
Film fest finalists include KU students
By Amy Kelly
akelly@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
While a bevy of starlets and producers paraded into Cannes Film Festival in France last month, lesser-known student filmmakers showed they might be next on the red carpet.
The 12th annual KAN Film Festival, Kansas' answer to Cannes, took place on Saturday, May 31 at the Lied Center. The KAN Film Festival drew 184 film entries that were then narrowed to 74 finalists.
Seven of the finalists were students or graduates from the University of Kansas.
like if the Confederacy would have won the Civil War. Willmott said after Hollywood studios felt his film about slavery wouldn't be a financial success, CSA became a locally based project.
"I think it fits well with the theme of KAN," Willmott said. "One of the things that CSA represents is community filmmaking."
Perez-Tejada earned second place for Ellipses in the College Division's Original category. He based the film on the term ellipses, which is a term to describe fading in and out during a film.
To raise money for KAN Film Festival, Kevin Willmott, assistant professor of the theater and film, showed his film CSA, which stands for Confederate States of America, at Crow Center in Kansas City, Mo.
It explores what life might have been
The judges consisted of individuals associated with filmmaking in the area. Winners received savings bonds or cash awards.
Matt Jacobson and Kevin Willmott, assistant professors of theater and film, discuss their movie CSA, which stands for Confederate States of America, at the KAN Film Festival. The festival, held Saturday, featured works by local filmmakers of all ages, with competition in four different divisions.
Zach Straus/Kansan
Matt Simonson, Topeka freshman, received first place in the College Division's Documentary category for Barbed Wire & Buffets.
Jeremy Osbern, Lawrence senior, received second place for Feel the Rhythm in the College Division's Industrial/Education category and third place for Wanna Dance? in Open Division's Industrial/Educational.
Other University finalists in the College Division's Drama/Comedy category were: Stephen Deaver, Olathe senior, Minor Withdrawal; Christopher Blunk, Omaha, Neb., senior, The Fascist of X-Mart; and Patrick Rea, Schuyler, Neb., graduate, and
Ryan Jones, Coffeyville graduate, Multi- Task. Shelly Harper, Berryton junior, was also a finalist in the College Division Origi- —Edited by Brandon Baker