UA Students Invited to Hollywood to Showcase their Films

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Campus MovieFest, the world’s largest student film festival, is returning to Hollywood for the 2011 International Grand Finale June 23-26, and students from The University of Alabama have been invited to showcase their award-winning films and compete against other universities for a chance to win overall Best Picture, Best Comedy, Best Drama and six special CMF Gold Tripod Awards.  

Several student teams from UA have been invited to screen their films and participate in industry workshops, sneak peak screenings of Hollywood movies, concerts, networking opportunities and the signature red carpet awards ceremony.

The Grand Finale will be held at the Steven J. Ross Theater on the Warner Brothers Studio lot in Hollywood. This year’s award-winning films invited to screen from The University of Alabama are:

·       Best Picture “Sugarbaby” by Bob Loblaw’s Law Blog

·       Best Comedy “Mind Games” by Fast Forward

·       Best Drama “Bottom of a Glass” by Que The Lights

·       AT&T Audience Choice winner “A Certain Woman” by Project One Studios

·       Staff Pick “Blue Barry” by The Coiner Production 

“We’re thrilled to invite the best student filmmakers from around the globe to Los Angeles to celebrate their creations,” said David Roemer, co-founder of Campus MovieFest. “We can’t think of a more perfect location than Hollywood, and we can’t wait to show attendees the amazing weekend of events we’ve got planned.”

Winning team members are:

“Sugarbaby” – Andrew Carey, a May 2011 graduate from Mobile who majored in telecommunication and film; Micah Russell, a senior from Huntsville majoring in telecommunication and film; Hamilton Henson, a senior from Toney, majoring in telecommunication and film; Kayla Terry, a May 2011 graduate from Tuscaloosa who majored in public relations; Christopher Dumas, a senior from Mobile majoring in theatre.

“Mind Games” – Daniel Barnes, a sophomore from Harvest, majoring in telecommunication and film; Evan Johnson, a sophomore from Headland, majoring in telecommunication and film; Gabriel Richard, a sophomore from Pleasant Grove, majoring in telecommunication and film; John Fillmore, III, a sophomore from Birmingham, majoring in computer engineering; Lena Hardy, a sophomore  from Atlanta, majoring in telecommunication and film; Casey Pickett, a sophomore from Birmingham, majoring in finance; and Amanda Harrison, a sophomore from Atlanta, majoring in sports and exercise fitness.

“Bottom of a Glass” – Xavier Burgin, a senior from Columbus, Miss., majoring in film production; René Gromotka, a sophomore from Stuttgart, Germany, majoring in mechanical engineering; and Joe Will Field, a sophomore from Tuscaloosa.

“A Certain Woman” – Alex Beatty, a sophomore from Orlando, Fla., majoring in telecommunication and film; Adam Naylor,  a May 2011 graduate from Millbrook who majored in communication studies; Daniel Zezulka, a May 2011 graduate from Hueytown who double majored in business and social work; Seth Kennedy, a  junior from Anniston, double majoring in economics and Spanish; Courtney Phillips, a May 2011 graduate from Trussville, who majored in biology and Spanish; Kyle Goodin, a senior from Millbrook, majoring in telecommunication and film; Stephen Lambeth, a senior from Flomaton, majoring in political science; and  Zachary Ponds, a senior from Brentwood, Tenn., majoring in geography.

“Blue Barry” – Thomas Coiner,a senior from Nixo, Mo., majoring in telecommunication and film; and Sarah Selleck, a senior from Hoover, majoring in nursing.  

All students, friends, family members and the general public are invited to attend events and represent The University of Alabama at this premiere film and music showcase.

Last year’s CMF events welcomed industry guest presenters and workshop hosts including Brett Ratner, director, “X-Men: The Last Stand”; Michael Giacchino, Academy Award winning composer of “Up”; Patton Oswalt, “Ratatouille,” “Big Fan”; Mark Boal, Academy Award winner for “The Hurt Locker”; Jason Sudeikis, “Saturday Night Live,” “Hall Pass”; Peter Farrelly, director, “There’s Something About Mary”; and Paul Dano, “There Will Be Blood.”

This year’s industry line-up will be announced later.  

The Ferguson Center and Campus MovieFest have partnered together for four years to bring the  world-renowned Campus MovieFest student film festival to the UA campus. The Ferguson Center staff promotes Campus MovieFest on campus and serves as the location for equipment drop-off and pick up as well as the campus red carpet finale where the top 16 films are announced. 

For more information about Campus MovieFest, visit www.campusmoviefest.com or email media@campusmoviefest.com.