It’s sunny and seventy degrees in Duluth this weekend, but that hasn’t stopped the crowds from showing up at the eighth annual Duluth Superior Film Festival. It hasn’t stopped IPR students and staff from showing up either, the department has a strong presence at the festival, in more ways than one.
IPR Related Screenings
IPR is a proud sponsor of DSFF and as a part of that sponsorship, our students have the opportunity to screen their films at the festival. The IPR Showcase, featuring 10 IPR students and recent graduates is on Saturday at 2:30 pm. Immediately following the IPR Showcase is the Regional Shorts Showcase, where shorts by George Reese and Andrew Hunt will screen.
George is a former single subject student in the Digital Video & Media Production program at IPR. He also the founder and VP of programming at Seeka TV, a streaming service for Web series. His short film Polo was shot as part of his coursework at IPR.
Andrew Hunt, lead production instructor at IPR, is screening LEVEL, a short that was conceived of and produced as a part of his Field Production and Lighting class. Each term, Andrew and his students produce a “big shoot.” It is a professional/student collaboration that gives students an opportunity to work alongside professionals and gain experience on a professional set. LEVEL is about a man trapped inside a never ending nightmare, a cat and mouse game that plays out between the man and a horrific beast that lurks in the shadows.
Additionally, Production Management and Story instructor Troy LaFaye screened a teaser from his web series, Transylvania TV, during a showcase hosted by Seeka TV and George Reese. Troy describes Transylvania TV as “a puppet show for grown-ups.” New episodes of Transylvania TV are being shot at IPR’s Edina Studios and students have been volunteering on the set.
Lastly, Andrew Hunt was also involved in Friday’s Seeka TV screening. His Web Series, Gods@Play had its world premiere at the festival. Andrew was in attendance and spoke at the Q&A that followed the screening “I’m extremely proud to be here, to premiere this series in Duluth, but mostly to have my students present for the screening.”
Student Film Crews at the Festival
In addition to all of the screenings, a crew of seven DVMP students are roaming the festival and the streets of Duluth, gathering footage for a short documentary on the festival. They are also creating 30 second daily preview spots that are published by the festival to promote nightly events.
Festival Director Richard Hansen expressed how impressed he was with the professionalism of the student crew, as well as his appreciation for IPR and the Digital Video program. “We are so grateful for the partnership of IPR, but even more so, I am excited and proud of my friends at IPR and the level of involvement that filmmakers with IPR connections have at the festival this year.”
The IPR Showcase features short films by DVMP students and grads, Joe Hegle, Danny Colburn, Nicole Luttrell, Collin Olevson, Jorge Fuentes, Nick Larner, Owen Seaton, Isaiah Canfield, Derek Forsmark, and Samuel Singh.
You can view IPR’s daily video updates on the Duluth Superior Film Festival’s Facebook page.