4 UMF Students Films in Festival Waterville Event Under Way Today
By Bonnie Washuk
FARMINGTON – College junior Thomas Deul of Wilton made a film he assumed would “fade into nothingness.”
Instead, his film about a man stealing medicine his family needs will be shown Saturday at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville.
Deul’s short film is one of four created by University of Maine at Farmington students selected for the festival. It was the first time so many films from one place were chosen, said festival director Shannon Haines. The festival, which begins Friday, has a reputation for showing some of the best independent films.
Most of the films that are shown are solicited by festival organizers, but they receive 150 to 200 submissions, of which only one or two dozen are accepted, Haines said.
“It’s exciting to show Maine filmmakers, as well as national and international,” she said.
Last year, 9,000 people attended the festival. This year, Emmy award-winning actor John Turturro (“The Big Lebowski,”"O Brother, Where Art Thou?”) will attend. He’ll receive the festival’s 2008 Mid- Life Achievement Award at a July 17 screening of his offbeat musical movie, “Romance and Cigarettes,” at the Waterville Opera House.
The UMF students and their films, all to be shown Saturday, are:
“Reinterpretation,” Deul’s animated film about a man doing something wrong for the right reason.
“America,” which gives sound and animation to Allen Ginsberg’s poem, created by Joanna Wilbur of Greene.
“Jill Came Tumbling After,” about a couple trying to free each other from communication and perceived restraints, by Matt St. John of Wayne and Emily Baer of Brunswick.
“Someone,” a chilling look at domestic violence by Desiree Dow of Solon.
Wilbur, 22, said she rearranged Ginsberg’s 1950s poem and juxtaposed it with images that would evoke contemporary issues in America, such as isolation, militarism, environmental issues and the war on drugs.
Deul, 21, is a psychology major who said he wanted to make a film in the spirit of a modern-day Robin Hood.
He said he’s interested in ethics and the idea of someone doing something wrong for the right reason: If someone steals food or a necessity their family needs, should society turn a blind eye or penalize them?
“Reinterpretation” was his first film, but may not be his last, Deul said. He’s talking to Tom Jackson, a well-known filmmaker who made “Out of Balance” about ExxonMobile’s impact on climate change.
“He’s interested in a global warming piece with animation,” Deul said. “I’ve run a few ideas past him.” If he worked on a film for Jackson, the viewing arena would be a large one, Deul said.
The festival begins today and runs through July 20. The UMF student films will be shown during the Maine Short Program at 3:30 p.m. at the Railroad Cinema in Waterville. For more information, go to http://www.miff.org.Four UMF student films will be shown at the Maine International Film Festival during the Maine Short Program beginning at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Railroad Cinema in Waterville.
For more information, go to http://www.miff.org.
Originally published by Staff Writer.
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