Despite its name, Cornell University’s Centrally Isolated Film Festival isn’t so isolated anymore. Now in its sixth year, the annual celebration of cinema, hosted by the Department of Performing and Media Arts, continues to expand, with submissions from distant states such as California, Illinois, and Rhode Island. The festival will screen student work April 12 and 13 at Cornell University’s Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, with a panel of industry judges awarding prizes across several categories.
“We had twice as many submissions this year, which bodes well for the growth of the festival,” said faculty advisor Sabine Haenni.
The winner of each category (narrative, documentary, experimental, and audience choice) will receive a $200 cash prize. Audience awards will be presented Friday, and the Saturday screening will be followed by a feedback and Q&A session with the judges.
This year’s festival includes films from students at Ithaca College, Syracuse University, Binghamton University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Purchase College, University of Rhode Island, Chapman University, and Bradley University.
“It has been a delight to watch this festival grow and blossom over the last four years,” said student organizer Gaela LaPasta ’19. “I'll really miss organizing it when I graduate this year, but I can't wait to see how it will continue to flourish.”
The Centrally Isolated Film Festival will be held on Friday, April 12, at 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 13, at 2:00 p.m. in the Schwartz Center’s Film Forum. The screenings are free and open to the public. A reception will follow the Saturday screening. The Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts is located at 430 College Avenue in Ithaca.
