FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 29, 2010

Films by Webster Faculty, Students and Alumni Win SLIFF Summer Showcase

Winners Selected for Fall St. Louis International Film Festival

Cinema St. Louis, presenter of the St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF), recently announced the winning films of the SLIFF Summer Showcase, several of which were directed by Webster University faculty, students and alumni. The winning films were selected for screening during the upcoming fall SLIFF film festival, Nov. 11-21, and some received special recognition.

Among the winners is "Gateway Guardians," directed by Webster Professor of Film Rebecca Ormond, which won the "Humanitarian Award." It is a documentary about the volunteer organization Gateway Guardians, which feeds, rescues and adopts hundreds of animals each year off the streets of East St. Louis, Ill. The film captures heartbreaking footage of the abandoned pets, volunteers on the streets, vet visits and foster homes.

CURRENT STUDENTS:

BEST END CREDITS  -"The World Away" directed by Thom Murray (Dramatic short)
A man and woman find comfort in each other on the last day of the world.

"Twenty-Six Stretches" directed by Nathaniel Calvert (Experimental short)
A young girl fears the loss of her unborn child.

RECENT ALUMNI:

BEST COMEDY SHORT  and BEST EDITING - "Acorn Theory" directed by Emily Hatcher and Whitney Gelnett (Comedy short)
A man's belief in the luckiness of an acorn helps him get through life.

"Broken and Wonderful" directed by Josh Rolens (Documentary short)
A look at singer, songwriter, photographer and radio host Bob Reuter, a legendary figure in the St. Louis underground art and music scene for the past 40 years.

Pantomime" directed by Zach Ginnever (Dramatic short)
A mysterious mime seeks to bring solace to a troubled child.

"Sudden Fate" directed by Liz Pekunka (Comedy short)
An unemployed college graduate is given a mysterious note by a stranger, leading him on a quest to find his place in the world.

"Terrible Things" directed by Stephen Jones (Dramatic short)
A girl wakes up in a room but has no memory of how she got there.

"Welcome" directed by Kate Fox (Dramatic short)
A brother and sister struggle to reconnect after their mother's death.

ALUMNI:

BEST HORROR SHORT - "Play Dead" Directed by Vanessa Roman
BEST JUVENILE PERFORMANCE - Marissa Roman, "Play Dead" Directed by Vanessa Roman
A young girl uncovers a terrible secret about her father, putting her in danger from a supernatural force.

BEST COMPUTER ANIMATION - "Horizons" directed by Zlatko Cosic (Experimental short)
This visual puzzle combines a New Mexico drive and Rodney Waschka's music composition "Horizon."

“Abound" directed by Jason Britton (Dramatic short)
A young man no longer needs his wheelchair but lacks confidence, prompting his girlfriend to urge him to play basketball with her.

"Engine" directed by Sarah Worner (Dramatic short)
Jo finds herself the talk of the town as speculation mounts over what could have happened to her dead brother.

“First Hit" directed by Josh Simpson (Dramatic short)
A rebellious teenager learns that father knows best.

"Prelom" directed by Zlatko Cosic (Experimental short)
Inside a closed environment, inhabitants collide with and fracture one another.

"Rhythm of the Wall" directed by Jeffrey Chamberlin (Dramatic short)
A shy young man pines after the girl of his dreams and faces public embarrassment when he makes his feelings known.

"Smeared Colors" directed by Kaitlyn Paradis (Dramatic short)
A visit by a granddaughter and friend makes grandma reminisce about better times with her ailing husband.

"Untoten" directed by Erik Thurman (Horror short)
Two German soldiers fight for their lives against the invading American forces, but they soon realize something more sinister is afoot.

FACULTY:

HUMANITARIAN AWARD - "Gateway Guardians" directed by Rebecca Ormond (Documentary feature)
A volunteer organization called the Gateway Guardians feeds daily, rescues and adopts hundreds of animals each year off the streets of East St. Louis, Ill. The film captures heartbreaking footage of the abandoned pets, volunteers on the streets, vet visits and foster homes.

"Capitol of the Multiverse" directed by Van McElwee (Experimental Short)
A neoclassical form breathes and mutates, overlooking a shifting horizon.

"The Tao of Blake" directed by Kathy Corley (Documentary short)
A preview of the upcoming documentary on the late Blake Travis, a beloved St. Louis musician and storyteller.

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