Tonight signifies Friday, April 18.
SEQUIM –– In fewer than six minutes per film, Sequim students present visions of journeys from the Olympic Mountain foothills to the Strait Juan de Fuca surf.
The Elkies, Sequim Education Foundation’s ninth annual student film festival, will begin at 7 tonight in the Sequim High School auditorium, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
Suggested donation is $5.
This year’s edition features the creations of 28 students who have collaborated to make 15 short films that will vie for scholarships and prizes.
Inside and out
The screen will include such pulse-racing thrill rides as senior Aaron Witherow’s “My Backyard.”
A semi-professional wake boarder and snowboard fanatic, Witherow made a movie using clips recorded by a mini-movie camera strapped to his head to show how much he loves playing in the mountains and surf of the North Olympic Peninsula.
“It’s a great place to play. I wanted to show how many great places there are to do that here,” Witherow said.
Another film puts the focus on the Peninsula’s natural wonders.
For “The Banks of Iron Mountain,” Megan McAndie, Michael Gufler and Tenille Tosland spent two days and a night filming around the Tubal Cain Mine to document its history and stunning scenery.
“It’s this whole lost history sort of place that not many people know about,” Tosland said.
“We wanted to show the mine and the plane wreck up there as well as how beautiful the place is.”
Sarah Hutchison went inside for her film “You Are.”
Her film includes interviews with more than 30 students who talk about the “mental heckler” that stops them from going after their dreams.
“I thought that everyone should be able to admit their fears,” Hutchison said.
“Because when you confront it, that’s when you know it’s wrong.”
Gala event
During the evening, T-shirts bearing the film festival poster designed by Sequim High sophomore Emily Webb will be on sale for $12, and a signed and framed poster will be auctioned.
Clips from winning films from festivals past will be shown.
Last year’s winning film was “Paint the Town,” a movie made by Kyle Lee Gordeuk, Daniel Call, Luke Silliman, Stephen Silliman and Josh Finch inspired by the painting passion of their mentor, Luke Kisena.
Scholarship prizes
The maximum amount of scholarship prizes for first place is $3,000, with no team member receiving more than $1,000.
For second place, it is $2,250, with no one getting more than $750, and for third place $1,500, with no team member receiving more than $500.
In the eight years the foundation has held the Elkies, students have been awarded more than $45,000 in scholarships.
Scholarships are divided equally among members of winning video production teams.
Trophies
Trophies will be given for best actor and actress, and the “people’s choice” Elkie Award will go to the winning video chosen by the audience.
The Port Townsend Film Festival is awarding a full pass to the festival to one of the student filmmakers, and the Olympic Audubon Society will award $250 to the best environmental film.
Videos are judged on the basis of content, presentation and production techniques. Judges are Elaine Caldwell, Marine Jahan Hirschfeld, Bruce Hattendorf, Brandon Taft, Sue Ellen Riesau, Jessica Plumb, James Trekas and Ellen Frick.
Students Ben Heintz and Danny Willis will serve as masters of ceremonies with past Citizen of the Year Stephen Rosales and comedian Mike Piper.
All proceeds go to the foundation’s scholarship fund.
For more information, visit the foundation’s website at www.sequimeducationfoundation.org.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
