Plenty of Reel Talent at Marquez Film Festival

By JACQUELINE PRIMO | Reporter

Students at Marquez Elementary Charter School are “reel”-y talented, as was demonstrated at the Marquez Film Festival sponsored by Marquez PTA on Saturday, Oct. 17 in the Marquez auditorium.

Students in grades K-5 created and produced their own 90-second movies, which were screened at the film festival. In addition to a showing of the top films and an awards presentation, the festival also included a Q&A with industry professionals Kristy Scanlan (Co-President of Women in Animation) and Ferrell Barron, producer of DisneyToon’s “Planes: Fire & Rescue.”

Roy Emad, Jack Oldfield and Lily Emad’s film won the “Most Creative” award; Eva Herndon’s won “Best Screenwriting;” and Riley Stoler’s film won for “Best Director.”

“There were so many amazing projects submitted, the judges narrowed it down to four finalists including an honorable mention for Annaleis Lighaam. The finalists’ films were shown on the big screen for friends, family and fellow filmmakers,” said Jenny Hope Cote, Marquez PTA President and creator of the film festival.

“As the Chair of the Marquez PTA, it is my goal to share as many experiences as possible with the students during my term,” Cote told the Palisadian-Post. “As we see art programs cut more and more, it is our goal with the PTA to make every effort to keep bringing art of every medium back.”

The winners got the opportunity to have their photo taken with Ferrell Barron, who handed out the awards to Marquez’s budding filmmakers.