COMMENTARY
Tonight at the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie, Spark Media Project will host its 3rd annual Reel Expressions Youth Film Festival. The festival showcases the finalists in competition for awards and recognition. The films are made and submitted by teenagers from all over the world. Last year there were submission from France and Belgium. This year sixteen different countries are represented.
Spark Media’s Executive Director Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt and Board President Cindy Rosenzweig invited me to judge this year’s competition. I watched twenty-three short films. The criteria for entering the competition includes: age (13-19) and length (less than 10 minutes). After watching a video, there’s an online survey to complete. I would watch two or three videos in a row and then go back and complete the surveys. I was asked to judge: creativity, clarity, quality of the story, cinematography, performance, editing, production value, and sound. I could comment on each category. I don’t know the results of the judging. I’ll find out with everyone else tonight. I don’t even know who else was a judge.
What I do know is that are extraordinarily talented young people making poignant and beautiful films. For a quick impression, take a look at this promo video with clips from each of the finalists:
I know there is a wide variety of activities and events in the Hudson Valley this weekend, but if you find yourself near downtown Poughkeepsie around 5:30, come and enjoy the festival! It’s a great event for parents and teens to take in together. And if you’re a film buff, come see film-making’s future.
Last year’s Reel Expressions, was also the 20th anniversary of the Childrens Media Project (they announced the name change to Spark Media Project that same night). CMP’s founder, Maria Marewski, was honored that evening with the very first Spark Media Award. Maria had built an impressive not-for-profit organization that provided instruction and opportunity for teens with an interest in communicating through media. She developed workshops and courses and special projects that Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt has carried forward into today’s Spark Media Project.
This year the Spark Media Award is going to my good friend and colleague, Donna Reyer. The award is given to a person who has made positive contributions to the community through the use of media. Donna’s work at Cablevision and Hudson Valley News Network as a video journalist and news anchor for more than ten years is deserving of the recognition. Donna has produced hundreds of news stories that informed and personified the hardships, challenges, accomplishments and celebrations of people who are our friends and neighbors. She has earned the respect of 1st responders throughout the Hudson Valley for being a professional and caring voice. And dozens of not-for-profits adore her for the heartfelt stories about their organizations and their missions.
As a media art, technology and education organization, Spark Media Project continues to engage, inspire and motivate young people. To learn more, click on the “Related Articles” below; then, come and see what I’m talking about tonight at the Bardavon.
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