Campus Movie Fest launching at Biscayne Bay Campus

Gabriella Pinos/Assistant Entertainment Director

For the first time in the University’s history, the Campus Movie Fest is arriving at the Biscayne Bay Campus to give students the opportunity to create their own short film.

The CMF is a worldwide student film festival where, over the course of a week, students in participating colleges are tasked to produce a five-minute short film.

Alaitra McGrone, promotions manager for CMF, said all majors, regardless of filmmaking experience, are welcome to submit their films.

“We don’t like to limit people’s creativity,” said McGrone. “…maybe if you’re interested and you’ve never used any type of filmmaking equipment, this is your time to shine.”

CMF at BBC launched on Wednesday, April 3 in Panther Square, where festival staff handed out equipment and sponsor prizes were shown to participating students. Students have until Tuesday, April 9 to submit their movie and return their equipment to qualify for the competition.

The best 16 film submissions are then premiered on Wednesday, April 17, at a red-carpet screening at BBC. The top four movies are awarded with a Jury Award and the chance to enter their film at the Festival de Cannes in France and the CMF Terminus Festival in Atlanta, Georgia.

“It’s a lot of opportunities that come in behind being a part of Campus Movie Fest,” said McGrone.

Students are also invited to create their film based on suggested categories by the CMF. The Walt Disney Studios Women in Film Category, for example, invites students to submit films that “show commitment to supporting a promising future to female storytellers,” according to the CMF website.

“What we’re expecting is just a great turnout of diversity,” said McGrone about the films that are submitted under these categories.

McGrone said involving CMF partners, which include Amazon Prime and Pixar, also provide opportunities for aspiring filmmakers and animators to work with these companies in the future. Winners of the Women in Film Category, for instance, are given a travel stipend to attend CMF Terminus, sit down with Disney representatives at a private luncheon and more.

Above all, McGrone said the festival allows students to exercise their creative muscles and influence students and staff on campus.

“We just want to actually just build relationships with each and every person, whether it’s from the faculty and staff down to the students, and just create an impact on the campus to where we can keep coming back each year,” she said.

For more information, contact Alaitra McGrone at amcgrone@campusmoviefest.com or visit campusmoviefest.com/fiu.

Featured image courtesy of Alaitra McGrone.