SRU Short Film & Video Festival seeking submissions

Slippery Rock University and Arts & Education at the Hoyt will host
the inaugural Short Film & Video Festival, Sept. 9, as part of the Arts
on the Riverwalk Festival in New Castle.

April 14, 2017

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University will partner with Arts & Education at the Hoyt, a subsidiary of New Castle's Hoyt Center for the Arts, to host the inaugural Short Film & Video Festival from 3-8 p.m., Sept. 9 at the Warner Film Center. The festival will be presented in conjunction with the 4th Annual Arts on the Riverwalk Festival.

The event welcomes all types of artistic approaches, from narrative documentaries to motion-based imagery and video art, especially from emerging, independent producers who are working on a small budget.

"We are accepting of all genres," said Jon Shumway, professor of art and chair of SRU's Art Department. "Our expectation, and our hope, is that a

festival such as this can serve as a means of exposing people to a range of thought about this media in an effort to pique their interest and encourage their involvement and participation."

Submissions are open now through June 23 in junior (ages 13-17) and adult (ages 18+) categories. All films or videos must be no longer than 20 minutes with submitters needing to reside within a 250-mile radius of New Castle.

A panel of judges, which will include Shumway and SRU colleague Katherine Mickle, associate professor of art, will view each submission. While judging criteria is still being developed, it has been determined that cash prizes will be awarded for the top three submissions in each category. Prizes will range from $50-$100 for juniors and $100-$250 for adults.

Entry fees are $15 for the juniors and $25 for adults.

"This is an opportunity for artists in the region to get some exposure but also for the general public, the New Castle and surrounding communities and SRU students to become more familiar with alternate approaches to these media, compared to movies and television," Shumway said.

For additional information, contact Shumway at jon.shumway@sru.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu