Festival draws crowd, showcases 100 films

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Gold stars on the floor led the way to theaters in Wells Hall, showcasing 100 films from around the country during the East Lansing Film Festival.

The movies, most of which were independently produced, might not have sounded familiar to students and local residents, but they attracted a crowd. Attendants and volunteers were buzzing about the turnout and the shows.

“It’s the way it was directed,” said Lansing resident Danairrio Kegler, 28. “You can tell people put in the time.”

The festival, which wrapped up Thursday after a week of showings, is in its 12th year.

Kegler was a fan of “Mildred Richards,” director Marc Kess’ story of a desperate actress who tries to steal her elderly aunt’s fortune.

Kegler, a former actor, was drawn to the film festival looking to get back into the business.

While the MSU men’s and women’s basketball teams’ performances in the NCAA Tournament kept some from the festival, it did not affect its overall success, director Susan Woods said.

“It was a very wonderful film festival,” Woods said.

East Lansing resident and volunteer coordinator Liz Harrow said overall festival attendance was slightly lower than last year, but student films seemed to have larger audiences this year.

“It’s been something the community gets behind,” said Lansing resident Josi Tremble, an usher team leader who has volunteered at the festival for seven years. “We have had a really good turnout.”

Although the official results of audience awards will not be available until today, Tremble said she heard good reviews about “Austin’s Movie,” directed by Tim Nagae. The film follows Brighton, Mich., native Austin Smith, a young boy with autism who likes to photograph sculptures in his hometown.

On Sunday, the Lake Michigan Film Competition, or LMFC, which is held during the festival, wrapped up with an awards ceremony. To qualify for the LMFC, directors had to produce, film or finance at least one-quarter of their film in the states that border Lake Michigan.

Winners of the LMFC were announced in four categories: short, documentary, feature and student films.

First place winners included “Doctor Reddy,” directed by Diane Cheklich; “The Cost of Oil: Voices from the Arctic,” directed by Coulter Mitchell; “The Truth About Average Guys,” directed by Ken Gayton and Jason Schaver; and “Plain and Simple,” directed by Merrin Marra. Kunal Savkur’s “The Happy Man’s Pants” won the Message Makers Most Promising Student Filmmaker Award, with a prize package worth $10,000.

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