Lights, Camera, Action: Edinboro’s David Weinkauf Student Film Festival Spotlights Final Projects and Accomplishments
Pennsylvania Edinboro Animation and Film majors are hard at work on their animatics and films for their final projects in their studio art classes. However, animation and film students need to be aware of another important event for media arts majors: The David Weinkauf Student Film Festival.
On Dec. 12th at 8:00 PM, students on Pennsylvania Western’s Edinboro campus can gather at the Pogue Multipurpose Room in Pogue Student Center to watch the films that their peers have submitted into the film festival; or watch their own film up on the big screen. The David Weinkauf Student Film Festival is a long running tradition where at the end of every semester the film, photography, and animation professors put together a showcase of projects that students have worked on throughout the semester.
To have their films put into the show, students must have the files submitted to a student storage folder for Fall 2024 designated by the animation and film professors by Dec. 8th at 11:59 PM. Students must follow standard video and audio requirements, such as 1920 x 1080p, 23.976 frames per second, and stereo audio with a standard leader, two second end card, and 30 seconds of silent black at the end. Students are encouraged to invite friends and family, and to wear clothing that would be appropriate to wear to a job interview.
KT Reihner, a senior Film and Photography major, is the co-founder and president of Edinboro’s Moving Pictures Guild. The Moving Pictures Guild is Edinboro’s film and photography club who do anything related to film and photography, including helping students make portfolios, having demonstrations for things like lighting, and making a film every semester.
Reihner said that the Student Film Festival has been growing exponentially over the recent years, up to almost 300 students in attendance for last semester’s festival, and that it has always been a great experience.
“The festival is always very fun, and the energy is great,” said Reihner. “There is nothing like getting to watch a large audience watch your movie. You’re always on the edge of your seat to see if that joke lands, or if they notice the Easter eggs you’ve hidden.”
Taney Basinger, a junior dual Film/Photography and Animation major, is the president of Pennwest Edinboro’s Animation club. Edinboro’s Animation club holds weekly meetings with each meeting focusing on a different part of animation. They also host different social and networking events, such as Halloween animation screenings and Homecoming sticker sales.
Basinger says that there are many benefits to submitting a film or animation into the student festival and encourages students to submit their works into the festival.
“It’s a great way to practice professionalism and film etiquette, as well as a perfect opportunity for networking,” said Basinger. “There is always such great energy and a sense of accomplishment from each student. It’s a perfect opportunity for students to show off their films and celebrate each other’s accomplishments.”
Reihner added that the film festival gives students an opportunity to gauge an audience’s reactions to their work, as well as allows professors to get an idea of what students are capable of.
“Actually, getting to see if your jokes land, see if people actually like your work, or if your friends are just trying to make you feel better,” Reihner said. “I know for film majors we look at the projects from other film classes and get an idea of what people you haven’t met are doing and we can tell who will work hard.”
Reihner said that applying personal work to the film festival can be stressful due to its strict time limit on top of finals, but it is still satisfying to see the result.
“It can be stressful in the last few weeks leading up to the festival. Trying to get approval on that last pass color correction or waiting for your mate to finish their job so you can start yours,” Reihner said. “I have also submitted a film I worked on individually with a small crew outside of classes. There is something more satisfying about putting a project I did on my own time in the festival than the one I had to do for class.”
Basinger said that she has not yet had a film in the festival but planned on submitting an animated film created along with her teammates Denia Henderson, Cameron Howe, Baldr Alexander, and Atlas Gorman that placed 4th in the annual 24-Hour Animation Competition so that the Edinboro community can enjoy all of their hard work.
Students interested in submitting their films or animations in the David Weinkauf Student Film Festival can contact President of the Moving Pictures Guild KT Reihner at kr204566@pennwest.edu or President of the Animation Club Taney Basinger at bas03495@pennwest.edu. Students can also contact film professor Brian Fuller at bfuller@pennwest.edu or Animation Club advisor Brad Pattullo at bpattullo@pennwest.edu with inquires as well. Full film and animation requirements can also be found on the website https://philm.school/submit/.
“I think even if you don’t have a project or know someone who has a project in the festival, you should still come and watch,” said Reihner. “The students here make some pretty incredible stuff and it’s always a good time. And even if you don’t have fun, you get free popcorn.”