>>PREVIEW
HOT SHOTS HIGH SCHOOL FILM AND AD FESTIVAL
Thursday, June 29
Uptown Screen
June is the end of the beginning if you’re a high school student. Tuxedos, prom gowns and parties – the end of an arduous school year and the welcome return to two months of long, lazy summer days all combine for a time to remember. Though they rest precariously on the brink of a lifetime of adulthood, these days, right here, right now, are theirs to keep.
And if that’s not a reason to celebrate, what is?
It is to this backdrop that the stage for the third annual Hot Shots High School Film and Ad Festival has been set. Dedicated to showcasing the talents of young filmmakers from Calgary, Alberta and the country, Hot Shots provides a first-rate venue and the festival experience to a talent pool that is chronically neglected.
"I’m so excited," exclaims 17-year-old and soon to be high school graduate Katelyn Mudry, whose six-minute short, Dodgeball Instructional Video, was one of the films selected from the over 170 entries this year. She makes no attempt to hide her enthusiasm about having her film shown in front of a packed- Uptown theatre as a cap off to her graduating year. And why should she? Festival organizers have gone out of their way to create the ultimate festival experience with over $8,000 in cash and prizes, not to mention the coveted Golden Reel trophies. Hot Shots also boasts a full red carpet experience for its filmmakers, complete with paparazzi, bodyguards and screaming fans.
Fanfare aside, this festival is about exposing the talents of up-and-coming filmmakers. Sixteen-year-old Brendan Prost is another one of these talents and while he admits the cash and prizes are a great incentive, he’s really just happy to finally have a place to show his films.
"I’m really encouraged about this whole thing. It’s a great event for high school filmmakers because it’s hard for a lot of us younger guys to get our movies seen."
He’s right. Prior to Hot Shots there really was no forum for young, local filmmakers to have their movies seen and, conversely, no real incentive for them even to be made. But, Brendan’s film is a shining example of the festival’s success.
"It’s one of those film’s that says everything in the medium," he says, speaking of Blue Jay Way, his film about a young man’s struggle with his own inner turmoil.
Calgary is on the brink of a cinematic renaissance and the Hot Shots Film Festival is a way to sample some local talent before they become seasoned veterans. |
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