For the past seven years, aspiring filmmakers, actors and video editors have put their skills to the test in the Harding Five Minute Film Festival, a showcase of the best work from students of many different media related majors.
The seventh annual festival — held on Thursday, April 27 — had 21 entries, consisting of 105 minutes of screen time, according to co-host Chad Kraft. Of the wide variety of genres served at the festival (including comedy, horror, drama and romance), Kraft said the best entries are the ones that bleed passion.
“If a filmmaker has poured their blood, sweat and tears into a project, it’s a good entry,” Kraft said. “You can truly see what the filmmaker cares about by the way they present their work.”
In addition to a clear passion, filmmakers must show quick wit when telling their stories. According to Charles Bane, assistant professor of English, the titular time constraint forces directors to get creative in structuring their films.
“You only have five minutes, so that’s not a lot of time to develop characters either through backstory or subplot,” Bane said. “The audience needs to be engaged immediately, so the more clever the story, the better.”
What separates the seventh annual festival from previous festivals is the new way winners are determined. According to Bane, the judges’ panel has been completely revamped to include industry professionals not restricted to Harding.
“This is the first year that our winners have been chosen by a panel of judges made up of industry professionals in the central Arkansas area,” Bane said. “That adds a level of objectivity to the awards rather than simply basing them on who brings in the biggest crowd.”
The festival is anticipated each year by aspiring filmmakers hoping to put their skills to the test, including junior Daniel Campbell. Campbell, who entered the short film “Shall We Exist?” in the seventh annual festival, enjoys the chance to express himself through his work.
“I love creating stories more than anything and that is what the Five Minute Film Festival is all about: creating and sharing stories,” Campbell said. “Whether you want to make people laugh, cry, or something in-between, the festival provides a way for people to express these things.”
Campbell’s short film tells the story of an average man who wakes up one day in an unknown world with a mysterious stranger who wants nothing more than to see the protagonist end his life. Sophomore Tyler Adams portrayed the stranger in the film and won Best Supporting Actor. Adams said he felt “shocked and proud,” as he was not expecting to win, and advised aspiring actors to have fun in their roles for the most rewarding results.
“Enjoy it as best you can, because if you enjoy it, you’ll act more efficiently,” Adams said. “Being in character is easier when you’re having a good time.”
Best Film
A Fistful of Oreos
Alexandria
Runaway Dorito
Best Director
Ethan Lakey for A Fistful of Oreos
Adam Leasure for Alexandria
Shamra Selm for Dejection
Best Screenplay
Ethan Lakey for The Bank Job
Adam Leasure, Hannah Reimart, Jolaina Anderson & Jake Davis for Alexandria
Kenyon Walker for Parallel
Best Actor
Chase Adair for Will You Be My Valentine?
Adam Leasure for Alexandria
Drew Sullivan for Diary
Best Actress
Sarah Arbuckle for Syn
Ruth Waters for Dejection
Abby Watson for Parallel
Best Supporting Actor
Tyler Adams for Shall We Exist?
Keegan Skinner for A Fistful of Oreos
Miles Tucker for The Bank Job
Best Supporting Actress
Hannah Reimart for Alexandria, Blinddates.com, and Finding Color
Best Cinematography
Ethan Lakey for A Fistful of Oreos
Matt Rice for Alexandria
Mitchell Thomas for Parallel
Best Editing
Amanda Hall for Runaway Dorito
Ethan Lakey for A Fistful of Oreos
Matt Rice, Ethan Sneed & Jake Davis for Alexandria
Best Sound
Justin Baker for Diary
Amanda Hall for Runaway Dorito
Matt Pierce for Syn
