Cathy Dobson
Hot on the heels of last year’s success, the Lambton Film and Food Festival is hosting another workshop for high school students who want to make short films.
And, like last year, it’s anticipated some of the students who attend will compete in the Lambton Youth Short Film contest.
The first 60 students to sign up for the workshop at the Bayside Centre will receive instruction from Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) staff coming to Sarnia on April 1.
TIFF programs aren’t generally mobile but organizers with the local film and food festival convinced TIFF instructors it’s worth their while to come to Sarnia, said spokesman Glen Starkey.
“We have this sweetheart of a deal for them to come here for their three-hour program,” he said. “They had a very energetic group of students last year and they’ve agreed to come again.”
Students will be coached through the entire process of short filmmaking, from concept to storyboard, script writing to shooting and editing.
During the workshop, groups of students will produce their own three-minute short films.
“It doesn’t sound like much time but it’s about the right length to tell a story,” said Starkey. “What happens at the workshop is just incredible. You have to see it to believe it.”
The workshop is free to the students and paid for through support from Lambton’s Creative County Fund, as well as the Optimist and Kiwanis clubs of Forest.
The clubs also present the Lambton Film and Food Festival May 26 – 29 in Forest. It incorporates the short film competition on May 26, which attracted a dozen entries its first year.
“The workshop and the contest are open to all high school students in Lambton County,” said Starkey.
“We feel that unless students are exposed to this kind of thing, they’ll never consider it for their future.”
Anyone interested in participating in the April 1 workshop can apply online at Forestfestivals.ca.
The Lambton Film and Food Festival link provides details and registration. Inquiries can be directed to steering committee member Scott Ferguson at 519-786-4688.