BLOG: Davis Varsity’s 13th Annual Film Festival is Upon Us

The 13th annual UC Davis Film Festival, produced by UC Davis Departments of Theatre and Dance, Cinema and Technocultural Studies, Design, and Art Studio, continues to expand thanks to increased community involvement.

This year attendees can enjoy an assortment of live action films, documentaries, comedies, drama, animation and political satire. Presented and hosted by the Davis Varsity Theatre, the event features glamorous red carpet fanfare and a different set of short films by graduate and undergraduate students each night. The festival runs Wednesday and Thursday, May 22-23, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 per night or $10 for a two night pass, and are available at the Davis Varsity Theatre box office.

For the first time ever festivalgoers can enjoy celebrity treatment at the event’s red carpet, funded by donations from the community. Attendees are encouraged to dress up and have their pictures taken in front of a Hollywood backdrop, all included in the price of admission.

Those over 21 can continue the red carpet experience at the pre-party hosted by Vini Wine Bar, located across the street from the festival venue. Audience members can mingle with UC Davis faculty and filmmakers and, by presenting their festival ticket, receive a 20-50% discount on wine and beer. There will also be a raffle in which attendees can enter to win prizes including $200 gift cards and cooking classes donated by Davis Food Co-op, Whole Foods Market, Yoloberry, The Hotdogger, Rocknasium and other local businesses.

Among this year’s submissions is “7 Kilometer” by first-year studio art Master of Fine Arts candidate Jacob Greenlund, a blend of fiction and documentary in which a nice guy attempts to win a rap battle to impress the girl he likes. Greenland’s second submission, “The Candidates’ Debate” uses found footage to explore the spectacle and performance elements of presidential debates.

Another submission, “The Big Chop" by Alexis Alizor, a graduate student in the sociology department, follows the stories of three African American women who have transitioned from chemically straightening their hair to wearing it natural. “The Big Chop" explores how issues of race, gender and beauty are expressed or challenged through hairstyles and practices.

Layth Haddad, a fifth-year student and Cinema and Technocultural Studies major, submitted four films. In "The Box," he investigates his generation’s short attention span and addiction to distractions. Haddad edited and directed this piece in addition to acting in it.

"Four Generations" by Jhunehl Fortaleza, who graduated last fall with a double-major in communication and English literature, provides a snapshot of the four generations of women living in the filmmaker’s house. Fortaleza was influenced by Sadie Benning's early work.

The festival team welcomes audience members to stay after screenings for a question and answer session with the filmmakers, faculty and production team.

To see winning films from previous years, visit: Department of Theatre and Dance website.