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Screen Test-The Rocky Mountain Student Filmfest

April E. Clark
aclark@postindependent.com
Post Independent
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
Mission Statement: The Rocky Mountain Student Filmfest is a student-run short film festival dedicated to providing high school students with a venue to express their creativity through film.
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GLENWOOD SPRINGS ” They come from New Castle and Basalt, Denver and Steamboat Springs. Even New York City.

Rocky Mountain Student Filmfest submissions offer the community a glimpse into the creative minds of young artists. This year’s festival ” in its 10th year ” garnered more than 40 submissions, said student Filmfest organizer Raine Girardot, a Glenwood Springs High School senior.

“We had a lot of good film submitted this year,” she said. “I’m really excited because it’s going to be a good show. We have tons of different kinds of movies from people from all over the valley, some from Denver, and some from Steamboat. We even have some from New York.”



Friday’s Filmfest starts at 7:30 p.m. at Glenwood Springs High School. Girardot said to expect a variety of filmmaking genres, including art, experimental, action sports, and comedies. Each of the 20 short films being screened are 10 minutes long or shorter.

“We have some that are 45 seconds and some that nine minutes and 30 seconds,” she said. “There are a lot of different, fun films … There will be a lot of laughs and a lot of tears.”



Girardot said the goal of Filmfest is to spark students’ interest in film. In the last 10 years, the contest draws more and more attention, she said.

“We step it up every year,” Girardot said. “We’ve had people say it gets better and better every year.”

Coal Ridge High School filmmakers are coming out stronger than ever in the festival, with four short films featured. Juniors Cody Isaman and Malachi Bilson shot and directed their own music video for the song “Answer My Prayer,” their first submission in the Rocky Mountain Student Filmfest.

“We filmed the music video as a story that the song’s about, which is breaking out and finding God,” Isaman said. “We just focused on the band.”

Isaman and Bilson shot the video for the band Everfound, out of Arvada. The filmmaking pair met the band at last year’s God Rally and originally planned just to film Everfound’s concert. They later worked with the band to evolve a music video concept into a three minute-long color work of art.

“We have special effects that lead up to the end,” Isaman said. “I like being creative and using special effects.”

Isaman’s first filmmaking experience came as an eighth grader when he and a friend produced an action sports-themed film. He also enjoys making narratives and documentaries, and recommends filmmaking for students seeking a creative outlet.

“The process keeps you very busy with hard work and very active,” he said. “There’s so much satisfaction you get from it.”

Isaman said he looks forward to the feedback the Filmfest offers.

“I would of course like people to like it, but I also would like to know how to improve,” he said.

Tickets for the Rocky Mountain Student Filmfest are $5 at the door. For more information, call 384-59963 or visit studentfilmfest.org to watch the trailer for tonight’s screenings.


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