University of Kentucky’s Student Film Festival Ready for Showcase with Stellar List of Nominees

University of Kentucky’s Student Film Festival Announces Solid Line-Up of Nominees

In Lexington, Kentucky, the renowned University of Kentucky (UKY) Student Film Festival is all set for a triumphant return on Friday, April 26, with an impressive array of nominees across multiple categories announced on Wednesday, April 24. This vibrant exposition of student creativity is set to take off at 7 p.m. in the Gatton Student Center Worsham Theater and is open to all, offering free admission.

Student Filmmakers in the Limelight

The esteemed university, in association with the Office of Student Organizations and Activities, Office for Student Success, Smart Campus, and the Media Depot orchestrates this festival that illuminates the imaginative talent of burgeoning student filmmakers. Participation was open to all UK students, by way of submitting a film or media project, thereby providing a platform for the unique voices of the future generation of cinematic artists.

Judgement and Recognition

Films submitted were appraised and scored by a select panel of local media industry professionals, and award sponsors for this year’s festival is none other than Courage Media — a local, award-winning media production company. The much-anticipated festival night will witness the presentation of seven awards, with nominees being recognised across categories such as Best Narrative Film, Best Experimental Film, Best Documentary, Best Animation, and the newly introduced, Best Super Short.

Nominees Across Categories

The Best Narrative Film category will honour the narrative fiction film with the highest combined judges scores. The nominated films include titillating choices, varying across aesthetics and themes such as “Love,” “The Clique,” “It’s a Scream, Baby!,” “Hold Box #8,” “Totality,” “The Retreat,” among others.

The Best Experimental Film category highlights the experimental film with the highest combined judges scores. Films such as “Dancing Circles,” “Love Letters to My Family,” and “UNTITLED 4” are the frontrunners.

The Best Documentary category will recognize the documentary film with the highest combined judges scores. The top contenders include films like “ Bring it On: Competing for a Cause,” “ Coffee Bean,” and “Danielle Hendrix, a Pediatric Cancer Survivor”.

The best animated film category cites the top films with the highest combined judge scores. Nominees include films such as “Perfect Day” and “This is working; I am Working”.

The addition of a new category, Best Super Short will crown the best film of any genre that is less than 60 seconds. Films like “All Roads Lead to DanceBlue” and “Students React to NCAA Upset” vie for a place at the top.

Audience Participation and Jovial Conclusion

In addition to the judge-based awards, the festival engages its attendees with the exciting “Audience Choice” award, to be elected by the live viewing audience on the festival night. An “Honorable Mention” will also be conferred, this selected by the festival’s internal selection committee.

To celebrate the grand finish of the festival, attendees are cordially invited to an after-party and an exclusive filmmaker meet-and-greet, thereby offering an opportunity for networking and exchanging ideas. Last year’s award-winning films can be viewed at the UKY Film festival’s official website or its YouTube channel.

The University of Kentucky cordially invites cinema enthusiasts, students and local residents to appreciate the creative masterpieces of its talented student filmmakers at the 2024 UKY Film Festival.