Campus Ministries announces Film Festival

A call to producers

On April 13, 2023, lights will dim at uGather as short films parade across the screen. These won’t be any ordinary films – they’ll be the top submissions in their category, produced by students, faculty and staff of Union College.

David Kabanje, vice president of Spiritual Life and campus chaplain, unleashed an uproar of excitement on campus when he announced earlier this year that Campus Ministries (CM) planned to host a film festival on campus. It was an idea that came out of nowhere, said Payton Arnett, who works in CM on the Video Production Team. “We are just doing a project where people can submit short films that will be judged by the school … and we will decide as a campus which movies are the best.”

There will be four categories of film projects – spiritual, comedy, stop-motion/animation and a fourth category: “day in the life of a Union student,” Arnett said. “It’s inspired by … the idea of following around one person, just in a standard day to day life. Most movies involve crazy plot lines; this would be more simple … you can have fun with it.”

Three winners will be chosen from each category with cash prizes being awarded. Over $1,000 will be awarded to the winning cinematic masterpieces.

Submissions are being accepted from Feb. 2-March 31. CM requests that the films be three to seven minutes long and meet specific guidelines CM has set out for the contest having to do with copyright, appropriateness and safety, etc. “If it’s a movie that aligns with Christian values, you’re probably good,” Arnett said. He encourages those interested to reach out to him, Kabanje or Halie Garrett, CM public relations via email.

“I love this idea,” Arnett said. “I think we have a campus … full of some amazingly talented people, and I can see so many totally different movies coming out of this…I really think these are going to be high quality films. I’m just looking forward to watching them.”

“I think that this is a great idea. … And it’s really cool that it’s being run out of Campus Ministries…I think it gives [CM] something really special to look forward to.” Arnett said in closing. CM is excited for students to turn in their submissions and prepare for the event in April. Watch uGroups and their Instagram page for further updates.

By: Charles Metz