Wednesday, March 28th

1–1:50 p.m. — International Student Films – Animation

• “Cinematic Love Story,” directed by Patrick Büchting, Germany (comedy, 4 min.)
  A teenage-girl and a teenage-boy are on their first date, watching a romantic comedy in a theatre, but then the unexpected happens!
• “Sog,” directed by Jonatan Schwenk, Germany (animation, 10 min.)
  After a flood, some fish got stuck in old trees. In danger of drying out, they scream sharply. Woken up by the noise, the inhabitants of a nearby cave don’t feel happy about the unintended gathering.
• “Patrioska,” directed by Tiago Araújo, Portugal (animation, 10 min.)
  Five deities of power gather in an Underground Secret Society to discuss major themes about world domination and status-quo. Mr. Visionarius has Machiavellian prospects for the future of mankind, but he is warned by the Angel Auditivus about the spiritual awakening present in some avenues of Western society. WARNING: This video may potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy.
• “Quarter Life,” directed by Sandy Barber, Australia (music video, 1 min.)
  Through the relationship between elements, the filmmaker wants to engage the viewer with the simplistic “contemporary still life” scene that brings into question global youth culture.
• “Plavba (Sailing),” directed by Anastasia Strockova, Czech Republic (animation, 5 min.)
  A pirate, content with his self-inflicted loneliness, sails his ship across the wide ocean. The animation is accompanied by a poetic voice-over commentary written by screenwriter Lucia Kajánková), narrated by the unique voice of the legendary Czech voice-actor Jaromír Meduna.
• “Catherine,” directed by Britt Raes, Belgium (animation, 12 min.)
  Catherine loves pets! But most of all, she loves her cat. As she grows up, she cannot connect with other people. Her cat is her life, and little by little she grows up to be a crazy old cat lady… Will she ever find friendship or love?

2–2:50 p.m. — International Student Films Part 1

• “Ngarksa (The Burden),” directed by Florim Likaj, Germany (drama, 13 min.)
  The story of two siblings. AGRON and DRITA fled from Kosovo to Berlin, Germany in 1999 after their parents were killed by the Serbian army. Agron has worked hard and purchased his own house to provide safety of a home for his sister. The two lead a happy life until a Serbian family moves into the neighboring house. WARNING: Violence, adult situations – not for children.
• “I Det Fri (I am Free),” directed by Edvard Karijord, Norway (documentary, 20 min.)
  An intimate documentary about loss, hope and living with unanswered questions.On the 8th of October 2013, Geir Karijord goes missing in Romsdal Valley, Norway. This leaves his family in limbo – should they mourn their brother and son, or should they hope for his return? I am Free depicts the family’s experience of Geir’s disappearance. It is an intimate documentary about loss, hope and living with unanswered questions. WARNING: Adult situations. Not for children.
• “Acheron,” directed by Matthias Kreter, Germany (thriller, 14 min.)
  We witness the rivalries between three gangsters and the growing panic of their hostage in the trunk. WARNING: Adult language, extreme violence. Not for children.

3–3:50 p.m. — International Student Films Part 2

• “Mein ist Die Rache (Mine is the Revenge) (Confessio),” directed by Antoine Dengler, Germany (thriller, 20 min.)
  While taking confession, a stranger comments on priest Benedikt’s latest sermon. As it turns out these two men know more about each other than either of them would be comfortable to admit. What started as a confession quickly turns into a game of life and death. WARNING: Extreme Violence, adult language, adult situations. Not for children.
• “Mia,” directed by Lukas Hablitzel, Germany (drama, 20 min.)
  While Viola seems to have a perfect life, Ellen has to deal with difficult family conditions and bad grades. Although Viola supports her as well as she can, it gets clearer that Ellen envies her secretly. She starts to invent stories about her that could destroy everything for Viola. A drama about friendship, where nothing is as it seems. WARNING: Drug use, adult situations. Not for children.

4–4:50 p.m. — International Student Films Part 3

• “Cinematic Love Story,” directed by Patrick Büchting, Germany (comedy, 4 min.)
  A teenage girl and a teenage boy are on their first date, watching a romantic comedy in a theater when the unexpected happens.
• “Der Grosse Tag (The Big Day),” directed by Will Kubica, Germany (dark comedy, 10 min.)
  Herbert has been more than peaceful for the last few years. Today he has the chance to meet his chaotic family one last time. The big day has come: Grandpa Herbert Maibach has become obsolete. Spending the last years in a coma, he didn’t exactly cover himself in glory. The family gathers to say their goodbyes. Easier said than done… WARNING: Adult situations. Not for children.
• “Growing Pains,” directed by Elijah Watson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. (drama, 10 min.)
  When tragedy strikes in the middle of the night, a young boy is forced to pick up the pieces of his life and discover that everything is going to be alright.
• “Ingest,” directed by Carson Cary, University of North Carolina-School of the Arts (drama, 2 min.)
  A stimulant-fueled joyride through the semantic processes of your typical egomaniac millennial artist — a critique of the illusion of “originality as an ideal.”
• “Liebesbrief (Love Note),” directed by Marcus Hanisch, Germany (romance, 6 min.)
  A bored, lazy girl degenerates in her over-digitalized single apartment. She sends emojis to her love interest until a power outage forces her to write an analog love note.
• “Catherine,” directed by Britt Raes, Belgium (animation, 12 min.)
  Catherine loves pets — but most of all, she loves her cat. As she grows up, she cannot connect with other people. Her cat is her life, and little by little she grows up to be a crazy old cat lady… Will she ever find friendship or love?

5–5:30 p.m. — Blast from the Past Fashion Show

Put your best foot forward with a 1980s look. Prizes for the winners.

5:30–7:30 p.m. — Feature Film

“Four Color Eulogy,” directed by Wyatt Weed (comedy, 120 min.)
Growing up the only child of a single mother, aspiring comic book creator Chris escaped St. Louis ten years ago and moved to Portland with his girlfriend Anne, forging a new life for himself. But when Chris learns that his mother is ill, he and Anne have no choice but to pack up their lives and move back home. Uprooted, his life completely disrupted, Chris is forced to face his mother’s mortality and that nagging old childhood question: Who was his father, and why wasn’t he around? With the help of his childhood buddy Brian, (a pop culture geek), and family friend/mentor Rich, (a bartender with a creative secret), Chris will have to determine what is more important: The hero’s origin, or his ongoing journey?

Director Wyatt Weed and Producer Gayle Gallagher will introduce the film in person.

Thursday, March 29th

12:30–1:45 p.m. — Guest Speakers Wyatt Weed & Gayle Gallagher

Director Wyatt Weed and Producer Gayle Gallagher, Pirate Pictures will speak and answer questions about their experience creating small and large budget independent films. For all aspiring filmmakers – this is a must-see event!

2:00 – 3:15 pm – Selections from the Colorado Environmental Film Festival

• “Water,” directed by Mark Knight (4 min.)
  Take a journey to some of the planet’s most spectacular glaciers, waterfalls, beaches, rivers and waterways. Destinations include Iceland, Igauzu Falls, Atchafalaya Basin, Lake Tahoe, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Punta Cana. Country: USA
• “Prescription Strength Convenience,” directed by Malia Cahill (2 min.)
  This parody of a prescription drug commercial pokes fun at the many environmentally unfriendly actions we take on a daily basis in our convenience-addicted society, and how they impact our environment and quality of life. Country: USA
• “Strike Out,” directed by Abigail Slama-Catron (5 min.)
  A team of Utah sixth graders design a novel bird-scare device. It began as a First Lego League project to address a community need and come up with a solution; it turns into something much more and leaves a lasting impact. Country: USA
• “Cities Beneath the Sea,” directed by: Malia Cahill (9 min.)
  Featuring interviews with local marine experts, this documentary details the recent rise in coral bleaching, what this means for marine ecosystems, and the outlook for coral reefs in Hawaii and globally in a rapidly changing climate. (Huliau Environmental Filmmaking Club) Country: USA
• “Melting Away,” directed by Liam Walton (17 min.)
  Liam Walton, an 18-year-old Colorado high school student, has a passion for skiing that drove him to explore the impact of climate change on his favorite sport and the delicate multi-billion dollar ski industry. Country: USA
• “Walk on the Mountain,” directed by Madeleine Van Dam and Onika Richards (19 min.)
  Explore the environmental and economic distress of the coal fields in West Virginia through the eyes of anti-coal activist Junior Walk. Country: USA
• “Protecting the Blue Whales and the Blue Skies,” directed by Michael Hanrahan (7 min.)
  In an effort to educate and bring awareness about ship strikes and air pollution, the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary in Santa Barbara worked in collaboration with Earth Media Lab to create Protecting Blue Whales & Blue Skies. This film highlights the importance and significance of the 2016 Vessel Speed Reduction program, which incentivizes voluntary slowing of ships to reduce whale strikes and air pollution. Country: USA 

3:30–4:45 p.m. — Minnesota Student Films and Q & A session

Join us as we celebrate our talented local filmmakers. After the screening, student filmmakers will participate in a lively Q & A session about their films. The audience will vote on the best Minnesota student film, which will receive a $50 cash award. We will announce the festival prize winners.

• “Leo Quinn,” directed by Paul Bhajjan, Minnesota State University, Moorhead (experimental, 5 min.)
  LEO QUINN is an experimental project that both suggests and documents the ties a select visual artist has with two significant portraits he has created.
• “Missed,” directed by Emma Hudziak, Bemidji State University (narrative, 5 min.)
  The film is about a little boy and his relationship with his teddy bear.
• “A Slice of Action,” directed by Demi Turner, Minnesota State University, Moorhead (pixelation animation, 1 min.)
  A hungry, lonely woman waits for her delivery boy. 
• “Awkward,” directed by Hannah Cook, Bemidji State University (personal documentary, 3 min.)
  This is an autobiographical film I created for my Digital Cinema class at Bemidji State University.
• “Thin Enough,” directed by Zachary Howatt, Minnesota State University, Moorhead (narrative, 4 min.)
  This film takes the viewer into the mind of a girl struggling with anorexia and the desire for acceptance. What she thinks she wants, however, is the thing that is keeping her from what she really needs. In trying to lose weight, she neglects her friendships and lets herself be consumed by her fear of consuming food.
• “Quintessenza,” directed by Rodrigo Costa, Minnesota State University, Moorhead (narrative, 6 min.)
  A girl who just lost her adoptive mother has to escape from the mind-prison that she has set herself in and face the harsh reality of the world.
• “Clay,” directed by Sydney Jenkins, Minnesota State University, Moorhead (animation, 4 min.)
  A student creates a clay dragon that comes to life, only to realizes he is alone. The film follows him on his emotional adventure in trying to tell the student that he wants a friend.

5–5:30 p.m. — Blast from the Past Trivia

Join us for a specially developed 1980s trivia session with prizes for the winners.

5:30–7:30 p.m. – Feature Film – Blast from the Past

“Back to the Future,” directed by Robert Zemeckis (1985, Fantasy/Science Fiction, 1 hour 56 minutes)
Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown. Stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover.