As movie theaters across the U.S. remain dark and the world’s top film festivals cancel their celebrations, one popular student film festival is keeping its annual tradition by taking students’ cinematic art from the big screen to the computer screen. On Sunday, May 3, at 7 p.m., Fairfield University will host a special online edition of Cinefest 2020, where members of the public and the University community can stream this year’s six student film submissions and attend the event’s annual awards ceremony from the comfort of their couch.

“Our film, television, and media arts students create work to share their distinct perspective with an audience, not to satisfy a degree requirement. Moving Cinefest online is a way for our filmmakers to reach that audience at a time when it is most critical,” said Patrick Brooks, assistant professor of film, television, and media arts. “When we’re feeling isolated from our broader communities, sharing stories is a way to bind us together and remind us that we’re part of a wider world.”

Each year, Cinefest celebrates the hard work and creative talents of Fairfield’s up-and-coming filmmakers by screening an impressive line-up of original short films and videos produced by undergraduate students in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts’ Film, Television, and Media Arts program. The films are selected by a jury of industry professionals who look for submissions with creative story lines and strong character development.

“I’m impressed by the great care students put into bringing their script to the screen this year,” Brooks said. “This group of films covers some heavy subjects, but also brings a heavy dose of black comedy and experimentation.”

The six short films selected for this year’s Cinefest are all directed by senior film, television, and media arts students and represent a wide range of genres, including comedy, drama, and documentary. Entries include 12 Rounds, a boxing drama directed by Vincent Caruolo ’20; Anger Burger, a dark comedy by Robert Long ’20; Hop & Nub and the Search for Space Beer, a dramatic science fiction film by Robert Sillo ’20; Napkin Obituary, a drama by Kienan Lyons ’20; and two films by Gracianne Eldrenkamp ’20, including the student-centric documentary Fear Itself, and the family drama We’ll Miss You.

As part of the online festival, finalists will be honored with "best of show" awards in the categories of film, director, cinematography, editing, screenplay, and sound design, as voted upon by a jury of industry professionals. This year’s panel of jurors is exclusively comprised of Fairfield University alumni and includes Justin Craig ’04, owner of the digital production company Cinephonic Media; Meaghan McKeon ’09, senior producer at TracyLocke; Andrew Moriarty ’09, Emmy-nominated writer, producer, and puppeteer for Sesame Street; Patrick Hendrickson ’10, marketing lead for Amazon Original Movies; Fiorela Canaj ’11, digital producer for the creative agency Real Pie; and Marisa Forziati ’15, video editor for Great Big Story in Manhattan.

In addition to their participation in the festival’s awards ceremony, the jury of alumni will also participate in a live, pre-show panel on the Cinefest website, during which they will offer advice to Fairfield filmmakers and discuss their professional paths in the entertainment industry.

For more information on Cinefest 2020 or to participate in the festival on May 3, visit www.cinefest2020.com.