Today: Greenfield Youth Film Festival’s Third Annual Gala Premiere at the Keswick Theater

With a focus on nurturing the creative growth of the Philadelphia region, the Greenfield Foundation and the School District of Upper Dublin are partnering to present the third annual Greenfield Youth Film Festival. A regional film competition, the program encourages the pursuit of the creative arts by bringing together faculty from Temple University and talented industry professionals, including winners of Oscars, Grammys and Emmys, to mentor budding high school filmmakers.

The program culminates on Wednesday May 4, 2011 in a Hollywood-style premiere with these professionals judging and then presenting the student films at the historic Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA. The festival is free and open to the public, and organizers expect a full house.

“These talented and creative kids have shown us that the next generation of great filmmakers is right here in the Philadelphia region,” said Lauren Wernovsky, Director of the Greenfield Youth Film Festival. “We are continually inspired by their stories and want to help make their voices heard."

Two hundred students from high schools in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties are taking part in an opportunity that is seldom available to them. Scholarships, awards and prizes will be generously provided by the Greenfield Foundation and other donors.

“The participants have learned from some of the best creative thinkers that this area has to offer. The students have gained skills that will propel them forward in any artistic venture they pursue,” said Ron Feldman, Trustee of the Greenfield Foundation and Commissioner of Upper Dublin Township. “We hope that these students continue to study film making in college, and perhaps one day make a feature film in their hometown, bringing their success back to the region.”

The Greenfield Foundation once again provided funding for film/video production equipment, allowing festival participants to use the latest in digital, still and video cameras, video editing computers, audio and lighting equipment, green-screens, special effects tools and much more. A hands-on educational portion of the program took place in January, hosted by Montgomery County Community College’s state of the art communications department, where high school students learned from industry professionals at a full day of film "school".

“What we’ve seen this year is an outpouring of support from our schools, mentors and students that does not show signs of stopping,” said Dr. Michael Pladus, Superintendent of Schools for the School District of Upper Dublin. “We hope this program can show schools nationwide that we can fulfill the need and desire for artistic outlets in a positive way.”

More information about the Greenfield Youth Film Festival is available at www.greenfieldyouthfilmfestival.com