Five schools. Six categories. One theme.
A new extension of the Heartland Film Festival High School Film Competition, the inaugural Team High School Film Competition challenged five teams of students from local high schools to create a three-minute film aligning with a theme (“passion vs. apathy”) that meets Heartland’s mission to promote positive change in people’s lives through the transformative power of film.
Beyond the theme, the film had to contain a character(either a Senior who is a varsity athlete but won’t play sports in college, a Junior who is struggling with grades and dislikes school, or a Freshman who has the highest GPA in their class but has not had to work very hard to get their grades yet) and a prop (an orange).
Participating schools included:
– Carmel High School
– Decatur Central High School
– Herron High School
– Lawrence North High School
– Pike High School
On Saturday, May 19, students from all five schools gathered at Pike Performing Arts Center to participate in a workshop, see their films on the big screen, and collect their awards.
The workshop, “How Can We Improve Our Film Creation Process,” was led by Andie Redwine, the writer/producer of Paradise Recovered (2010 Heartland Film Festival Official Selection). After the workshop, Andie teamed up with two other judges to view and critique the students’ films: Thomas Lewis (a filmmaker, video artist and photographer who teaches video production in Media Arts and Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis), and Sandy Pagano, a Heartland Film Festival screener and Truly Moving Picture Award Jury volunteer.
After thoughtful consideration, the judges presented awards across six categories:
1st Place (Prize: Trophy and Roberts Camera gift certificate)
Winner: Carmel High School – Rotating Clock
A film about a frustrated student and a distracted guidance counselor that sets up the future where history does not repeat itself.
2nd Place (Prize: Prize: Trophy and Roberts Camera gift certificate)
Winner: Lawrence North High School – Passion
A film about an aspiring baseball player, who on the verge of signing his letter of intent decides to follow his passion and instead become a ping pong player.
3rd Place (Prize: Prize: Trophy and Roberts Camera gift certificate)
Winner: Carmel High School – Expectations
A film about a girl choosing between her passions of a future in soccer or culinary school.
Best Use of Character (Prize: Trophy)
Winner: Lawrence North High School – Passion
A film about an aspiring baseball player, who on the verge of signing his letter of intent decides to follow his passion and instead become a ping pong player.
Best Application of Theme (Prize: Trophy)
Winner: Decatur Central High School – A Small Gesture
A film about and athlete who has lost her passion only to have it restored through a small act of kindness.
Best Application of Prop
Winner: Herron High School – Blue
Congratulations to all the winners! The top three films will be shown during the High School Film Festival grouping at the Heartland Film Festival in the fall.
Thank you to Roberts Camera, the official provider for the Heartland High School Film Competitions.
Call for Entries: High School Film Competition Submission Deadline July 1
The Team Competition may have been a local event, but the Heartland Film Festival High School Film Competition is open to all high school student short films and is still accepting submissions! Hurry, the deadline is July 1!
