Campus MovieFest, the world’s largest student film festival, returned to Georgia State on Wednesday. An annual design competition brigning together the creative minds of Georgia State’s student filmmakers, Campus MovieFest (CMF) is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Sheza Tariq, the Central Tour Promotions Manager for Campus MovieFest, believes that Campus MovieFest provides a unique experience from most student competitions.
“I think the main difference between CMF and other university competitions is the fact that students walk away with a tangible product that they can call their own,” Tariq said. “Students have a creation they can be proud of, one that they can show their kids someday.”
On Wednesday, students interested in participating were able to pick up their shooting equipment and begin filming their projects. Students are given a week to shoot, edit and complete their short films for the finale on Feb. 16. Tariq, formerly an active member in the competition, recalls her experience with Campus MovieFest.
“I was just about to graduate from Rutgers when I decided to enter the competition,” Tariq said. “I literally had a month left until graduation, and I was taking 18 credit hours. I didn’t get much sleep and there were a lot of sacrifices that I had to make, but it was a great experience. It allowed me to escape from the stress of classes for a moment.”
All students at Georgia State are encouraged to participate. Tariq believes Georgia State’s diverse student body complements the competition perfectly.
“CMF is for any student that has a creative side, not just film students,” Tariq said. “It blends media, art and creativity into one. Our offices are actually located in Decatur, and we’ve always appreciated the innovative creations that have come from Georgia State’s students.”
Although the finale is still just a week after the issuing of equipment, Tariq explains how this year’s competition is different from previous years.
“We still show the top 16 movies in the finale showcase, but we’ve decided to eliminate a majority of the superlatives this year,” Tariq said. “The top 4 movies get screened in Hollywood, but nobody knows who the winners are until the finale. We’re still awarding the ‘Best Actor’ and ‘Best Actress’ superlatives, though.
The Campus MovieFest’s finale will be on Feb. 16, at the Speaker’s Auditorium
