Fairfield University Department of Visual and Performing Arts and Community Theater of Fairfield present CineFest Fairfield

Fairfield University Department of Visual and Performing Arts and Community Theater of Fairfield present CineFest Fairfield

The Fairfield University Department of Visual and Performing Arts in association with Community Theater of Fairfield will present CineFest Fairfield on Thursday, April 7 at 7:30.pm. The free event will showcase the University's newest major, New Media: Film, Television and Radio.

The major seeks to give students a broad understanding of the expressive power of media, and the ability to experiment with their own creative voices. A major within the department of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), the program offers courses in theory, history, genres, styles, and structures, as well as hands-on production courses. The program also features three Jesuit priests as full time faculty including Fr. James Mayzik, S.J., director of the program and Media Center, Fr. Mark McGregor, S.J., and Fr. Mark Scalese, S.J.

"CineFest Fairfield was designed to introduce the new major to the community, recognizing the importance and influence that the media has," said Fr. Mark Scalese, S.J., assistant professor specializing in film and television production.

The event will include short films by students at the University. Fairfield student Kevin Tracy is working on a short documentary for the event about a flagship show called "Into It" which is featured on the University's student broadcast TV station, the HAM channel. He began working on the film as a project in Fr. Scalese's class and said working on the film with the possibility of presenting it "is a great way to show a multitude of people what the new major is about." He hopes CineFest will create a greater sense of appreciation for media within the university and local community.

International students will also be presenting their work through NextFrame, an international traveling film festival. NextFrame is a project of the University Film & Video Association (UFVA), which was founded in 1947.

According to NextFrame's website, it was founded in 1993 by Dave Kluft, a graduate student in Film & Media Arts at Temple University in Philadelphia. The Festival began touring in 1994, and features animation, experimental, documentary, and narrative work. NextFrame's award-winning films participate in a yearlong international tour with chosen films screening in dozens of cities throughout the United States and around the globe.

The faculty within the New Media: Film, Television and Radio program will present some of their own films as well. Fr. Scalese will present a short documentary while Professor Ismael Ramirez who teaches filmmaking I and II and Fr. James Mayzik, S.J., director of New Media and the Media Center will present short dramatic productions.

"CineFest Fairfield will become a notable annual event for the University and for Fairfield County," Fr. Mayzik said. "Fairfield students will emerge as leaders within the region and the nation for their creativity and talent in film, television and radio within this exciting new program."

The event will also include free software awards given away by Avid, known worldwide for producing software, but most specifically editing software, which is used in Hollywood movies.

The public is invited to attend CineFest Fairfield and admission is free. The Community Theater is located at 1424 Post Road in Fairfield. For more information, contact the Media Center at Fairfield University at (203) 254-4000, ext. 2697.

Posted On: 04-01-2005 10:04 AM

Volume: 37 Number: 220