Dublin High Brings Film Festival Online; Gets Record-High Entries

DUBLIN, CA — Though Dublin High School's sixth annual Film Festival won't be held at the school's Performing Arts Center, judges received a record-high 91 films for consideration. The top 18 will be on display at the virtual bash.

The school wasn't initially planning on holding the event, but students insisted that the show go on, said Michael D'Ambrosio, who teaches video production at Dublin High.

"They just wanted some sense of normalcy in their school year," he said. "Especially for the seniors ... they've lost so many opportunities, so many events, so many memories."

The festival had become a school tradition and sold out every year, even though the first event garnered just 12 submissions.

Last year, all 516 tickets to the show sold out in a minute-and-a-half — so fast that the school decided to hold a second night, which quickly sold out too, D'Ambrosio said.

Students dress up to walk down a red carpet into the center to watch short films spanning various genres and topics.

There's no grand entrance to the festival this year, but students are more dedicated than ever, D'Ambrosio said. Nearly all students had to scrap their original projects and start over after the shelter-in-place order went into effect.

"I've never been more proud of a group than this group since I started teaching," he said.

This year's film festival is a tribute to their creativity and perserverence.

"It almost gets me teary eyed just thinking about it," D'Ambrosio said.

Tune into the event at 7 p.m. Thursday here. Watch the trailer here.