ShortFest boasts worldwide reputation
by Chuck Graham on Apr. 12, 2007, under Calendar
The short films are a little longer at the TucsonFilm.com ShortFest, a proudly independent showcase started last year by Tim Gassen as a juried presentation of movies from around the state and “around the globe.”
The festival’s 20-title program this year includes entries from Brazil, Spain, the United Kingdom and several of these United States – including seven from Arizona.
“The quality of the films this year is so much better than last year,” Gassen said. Because all of last year’s films made it onto the TucsonFilm.com Web site and were available for worldwide viewing, “It didn’t take long for the reputation of the festival to get around. Online, people see the quality of what we have here.
“There were several hundred short films submitted for consideration this year, and only 20 were selected, plus another 15 we put online. We also wanted to show as many Arizona films as possible.”
Receiving a special niche is this year’s Oscar-winning short film, “West Bank Story,” credited to California but made by University of Arizona graduate Ari Sandel, who will not be present for the screening. Neither will the film be a part of the competition for Audience Choice and other awards that will conclude the event.
The keynote guest speaker is Andre Bormanis, a writer-producer and technical science adviser for the cult classic “Star Trek” series.
One of the festival’s major sponsors is Pro 8mm of Burbank,Calif., with a workshop on shooting with 16 mm and Super-8 film led by Pro 8mm owner Phil Vigeant.
“I’m not a snob about using film,” Gassen insists. “But film transferred to high-definition digital video still has more definition than digital video alone.
“A lot of people are still shooting film. It is a great discipline to learn not to be wasteful, to shoot only what you need. My own short, ‘Vote for Zombie,’ was shot on film.
“We will be giving away so much film at the festival, no one will have an excuse not to shoot on film.”
Gassen says $1,000 in film-pack prizes will be awarded to filmgoers at the festival. The packs will include film stock, processing and digital transfer packages.
For free parking on the University of Arizona campus near the Student Union, take East Speedway Boulevard to North Mountain Avenue, go south on Mountain to Second Street, turn left to reach the entrance of the Second Street garage.
———
IF YOU GO
What: TucsonFilm.com ShortFest film festival
When: 3-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Gallagher Theater in the UA Student Union
Price: $10 for all day
Info: 319-9848, www.TucsonFilm.com
