Sheridan films hit the big screen

STORY BY BRITTANY PREOCANIN

(Photography by Brittany Preocanin) Daniel Moctezuma, a third year Media Arts student.

What’s normally a dream come true for film and television students is now a real possibility for any aspiring Sheridan filmmaker.

On Monday, March 23, dozens of three-minute shorts will be screened as a fundraiser for the Media Arts program’s year-end award ceremony at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

The screening will include short films submitted by any Sheridan Student.

“Even those who do it as a hobby may never get the chance to put it on the big screen, this gives them that chance,” said Lisa Dermentjian, a support services officer for Sheridan’s Film, Television and Journalism programs. “It gives them a purpose to create films.”

In the past, the students in Media Arts would have their year-end awards show at Trafalgar Campus.

Three years ago, the Media Arts program got connected with film.ca, previously known as Encore Cinemas. The venue decided to donate its space to the students so they could share their films with friends and family in a real cinema.

“Students love seeing it on the big screen,” said Dermentjian. “It’s like going to the movies. You get your popcorn, you get your drink and you get out of that classroom setting.”

Natalie Leppik, a second year student and vice-president of Sheridan’s film and television club, is looking forward to running the event.

“When you do your work, you usually show it to a few friends and family, but with this we get the opportunity to show it to a wide range of people.”

Leppik, along with film and television club president Sofia Lane, work together with a group of about 20 students to organize the event every year.

“We also wanted to spread the film and television club name by showcasing other films,” said Lane. “It is a one-of-a-kind thing for people to see their films and it is what industry professionals aspire to.”

In preparation of the event, film club members will take all submissions, and add title cards for the final screening.

The event hopes to show up to 40 short films, each running about three minutes long. Entries can be from portfolios, high school assignments or projects.

The TIFF Bell Lightbox is a five-storey complex consists of a public atrium, five public cinemas, two galleries, three learning studios, student centre, a restaurant and a lounge.

The total cost of the event is $25,000 and the award show requires the auditorium and lounge space area.

As for the student film screening, “We hope for a successful night that can continue as a yearly event,” Dermentjian said.

The screening fundraiser is at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 23 at film.ca cinemas on Speers Road. Tickets are only available at the door for $5 and raffle tickets will be sold for a prize, valued at $100.