Ruby Zima Student Film and Art Festival

Ruby Zima Student Film and Arts Festival slated for April 27

Student art work, performers and films will be showcased at Fenton High School on April 27 during the fourth annual Ruby Zima Student Film and Arts Festival.  Students’ work in all grade levels from Fenton, Linden and Lake Fenton will be presented.  The festival is made possible by grant from the Fenton Area Public Schools Education Foundation and the Sarah E. Warner Endowment for the Arts.  Additional sponsors include the State Bank and Weather Seal.

“We had some incredible entries last year, but this year I think people really recognize what this festival is all about,” Fenton High School video productions teacher Rich Ashley said.  “I know Linden, Lake Fenton and our students are really planning to step it up.  I have already seen a few entries just from my students and they are exceptional.”  

The film and arts festival was organized not only for public entertainment, but also to provide students with an opportunity to display their talents and win cash prizes.  Cash prizes are awarded to high school students in three different categories: visual arts, film and performance arts.

First place winners will win a prize of $250, second place finishers will receive $125 and those finishing in third place will be awarded $50.

“I entered last year and won first place for my water color and pen painting,” sophomore Ally Barnett said.  “I am planning on entering a new watercolor piece of a pond with lily pads and flowers; it is a recreation of a landscape image.”

Artwork ranges from pencil drawings to water colors to 3-D projects. In the past, the performance portion has showcased talents like singing, playing instruments, and even doing magic.

“I am looking forward to seeing what students submit this year,” Fenton High School art teacher Kristen Poniers said.  “It will be a very exciting show.”

In addition to the three winners from the categories of film, visual and performing arts, the Sarah E. Warner Award for Leadership will be presented to a female artist who demonstrated outstanding and well-rounded participation and leadership in the arts.

Entry to the festival is $2 for students, $5 for adults and $10 for a family of four, but admission for student artists is free. A concession stand will be available for guests to purchase refreshments.  Doors open at 1 p.m. and awards will be presented at 4 p.m.

The event will kick off at 12:30 with keynote speaker Steve Coffey who is a senior at the University of Michigan. A graduate of Fenton High School's TV Production program, Coffee went to college with a desire to keep creating short films. As a sophomore, Coffee and two other screen arts students started Filmic Productions, a student-run group focused on making short films. Since then, Filmic has expanded to become a creative collective of 21 freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors whose focus is generating creative advertising solutions for the University of Michigan.

In 2011, the Student Film and Arts Festival was named for Ruby Zima with a grant from the Sarah E. Warner Endowment for the arts.  Both of these women are lifelong supporters of arts and education in the Fenton community.

Sarah Warner was Executive Director of the Greater Flint Arts Council, Development Officer for the Flint Institute of Arts and Estate and Special Events Coordinator for the Ruth Mott Foundation at Applewood.  Her enthusiasm, artistic talent and fundraising abilities gave great substance to the many significant leadership positions she held not only in Flint but extending to state and national arts organizations, as well as civic and philanthropic organizations. 

Ruby Zima opened the Fenton High School audi­torium and contributed 30 years of her career to the Fenton Area Public School family as an English and drama teacher. She was a strong advocate for teaching excellence and earned the respect of her students, Fenton High School staff, the parents and the community. Zima set high standards, modeled strong expectations for learning and inspired young people.  She has shared her life long love for drama with the Fenton community and has touched the lives of thousands.  The high school auditorium was named in her honor in 2007.

The community can support the arts in Fenton by attending the festival. Contributions in support of the Ruby Zima Student Film and Arts Festival can be made to the Sarah E. Warner Endowment for the Arts and/or the Fenton Area Public School Education Foundation. Both are administered through the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.