Film festival to ‘move’ community

The West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival takes place this weekend at the Warner Theatre.

The film festival was organized by the West Virginia University Department of Art and the Appalshop organization.

Competitors in the festival will be competing in the following categories: documentary, narrative, animation/experimental, young filmmakers (under 18) and works focused on Appalachian culture.

There are no rules or fees to join the festival, but the film must not be longer than 20 minutes.

This is the debut of the film festival, and organizers hope it is a success and will continue each year.

"This is going to be a terrific event, and we are hoping to get the community informed about it," said Gerald Habarth, administrator of the film festival. "This is the first time around for the festival, and we hope to make it an annual event."

The festival will showcase the artistry and imagination of short film creators and also promote awareness of Appalachian regional issues and themes.

"It's about celebrating and presenting to the community works in film, video and animation. We want to present to the community a glimpse into a whole world of expression that perhaps they have not seen in their trips to local theaters and expand people's conception of the ‘movie,'" Habarth said. "It will also serve to raise awareness of the historical and cultural issues specific to our region."

The festival is an international competition and will include movies from across the United States, Europe, Japan and Morgantown.

Contestants are competing for recognition and a variety of prizes. Awards include a $500 Best of Festival Award and five $200 awards in each festival category.

Sam Crow, a sophomore general studies major at WVU, is excited to enjoy the entertainment the festival has to offer and hopes to learn about short films in the process.

"I am deciding on a major right now, and I really enjoy movies and working with art, so I am excited to see if this festival will help me make up my mind to do something I love," Crow said. "My friends and I are excited to go to this, and if it's fun, maybe we'll start going every year."

Habarth believes the festival will attract a large audience because it is something unique and a different activity for the community to enjoy.

"People will enjoy the unique character of much of the works that will be screened," Habarth said. "Some of them will make you think, some of them will make you laugh, some will move you and some you will enjoy for their sheer beauty, whit or imaginative construction."

Show times are Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

There is also a show at the Bloch Hall Theater of the Creative Arts Center Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight.

The film festival is free and open to the public.