SoMAD represents at Twin Cities Film Fest
The School of Media Arts & Design was well represented at this year’s Twin Cities Film Festival, with ten Film/Animation students in attendance (all members of the Film Loop Club) who spent a long weekend watching award-winning films and attending industry workshops and three films screened, showcasing ten MSUM Film alumni. On Oct. 19 the dramatic feature, “If Memory Serves” was presented to a packed house. The project was produced, production designed and edited by Simone LeClaire, photographed by Ben Efron, sound by Christian Calabrese and included the acting talents of Patrick Thompson, Travis Buschette and Joe Terhaar, all Film Production alums. MSUM Theatre alums, Matt Englund and Joe Rapp were also part of the acting ensemble.
Film Production alumnus, Matt Eckholm’s award-winning fantasy-short, “The Bridge” was also screened at the fest. Eckholm wrote and directed the film and fellow alums Christian Calabrese (dir. of photography) and Billy Straub (producer) contributed their talents.
Film Production graduate Amber Johnson (MSUM’s 2016 Young Distinguished Alumni recipient) also screened her award-winning short comedy, “Lady Lillian,” which was chosen to receive the 2017 TCFF Bill Murray Comedy Shorts award by actor/comedian Bill Murray himself.
Overall this year’s festival experience was extremely rewarding and the students and faculty of SoMAD are already eagerly anticipating next year’s event.