Student Film Festival
Join us for the 2024 annual student film showcase!
Bring your friends and family to celebrate student filmmakers in the community and watch some amazing short films! Engage in a fascinating Q/A session with the filmmakers and enjoy an afternoon to remember!
May 5, 2024 | 4-5:30pm
Lake County JCC
23280 N Old McHenry Rd
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Price: Free
Questions: Please email Sam Bolen.
Films
Winners:
College: Maya Levy, Mount Holyoke College, Playing Rabbi
High School: Micah Wolkenberg, Deerfield High School, Dealing with Cancer
Other Films Being Presented Include:
High School: McKenna Hopkins and Pamela De La Concepcion, South Elgin High School, Luke Berryman and the 9th Candle
High School: Jordan Weynschenk, South Elgin High School, Evelyn & Rosa
High School: Noah Cheney and Jaxson Krzyzanowski, South Eglin High School, Dov Forman
Judges
I moved to San Francisco after receiving my Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Television from Montana State University in 1980. My first job out of college helped shape me into who I am today. I worked in the film department for a local corporation shooting and editing sales and marketing films. Although I was primarily responsible for editing these films, I did my fair share of shooting them as well. I soon discovered that my passion was behind the camera. I believe that my experience in the post-production end of this business has made me a better director of photography.
I went freelance in 1982 and left the Moviola behind me for good. Armed with a 16mm film camera and a recently purchased video camera I soon pursued my career as a director of photography. My enthusiasm for shooting has been rewarded with numerous awards including two Cine Golden Eagles, a few Tellys, a couple Joeys, two National Emmy Awards and others.
I feel fortunate to have worked in some of our planet’s most exotic locations. I am just as happy training my lens on Bengal tigers in India, a salt caravan in the Sahara Desert at sunset or the latest technological achievement from the Silicon Valley.
Some of my more interesting assignments include shooting Jazz in Cuba, the Pyramids of Egypt, wildlife and the Zambeze River in Zimbabwe, a children’s peace group in Moscow, a remote dive resort 500 miles off the shore of South Sulewesi, the rice fields of Bali, to the headhunting tribes of Papua New Guinea as well as some of the most beautiful and remote spots in America. I consider myself as someone who is well traveled and one who travels well.
I believe I bring a passion for the art form to every job I do. I have often been asked what I could see myself doing if I wasn’t in this business. Honestly, there is nothing I’d rather be doing. I feel both lucky and blessed to have had the experiences I have had working on so many interesting projects with so many interesting people.
The founder of Buffalo Girl Productions, Gail focuses on delivering unique content acquisitions licensing deals, programming budgets, as well as editorial and launch strategies for her clients. She is an accomplished corporate veteran with extensive experience in content acquisitions licensing. Gail has held roles at the boutique streaming platform Fandor, AMC Networks/Sundance Channel Global as part of the executive team that launched Sundance Channel globally and at Sundance Channel and IFC Networks on their domestic channels. Gendler started her career at NBC, working on the late-night talk show LATER…with Bob Costas and with NBC’s Olympic Unit at the Sydney, Barcelona and Atlanta Summer Olympic Games.
Student Filmmaker Competition Guidelines
JCC Chicago is proud of its 120 years – rooted in Jewish values, fostering a united, inclusive community with a focus on growing good kids and building lifetime connections. We have embarked on a Growing Hope Movement, based on informed tolerance, acceptance, kindness and hope with a mission to instill in today’s youth the core values that will help realize the kind of future for which we all aspire.
The JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival Student Competition invited and encouraged student filmmakers to develop short stories around the themes of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, community, kindness, positivism, role modeling, stewardship of the earth, any Jewish holiday or historical event. We believe that these stories have the power to educate, inform and inspire behaviors and beliefs that will change the world for the better.
WHO: Student filmmakers of all experience levels (all welcome, you don’t need to be Jewish to apply!) Middle school through College undergraduates encouraged to apply.
WHAT: New or previously created documentaries or narrative short films running 3-10 minutes in length, including credits.
WHERE: Filmmakers must reside in the Chicagoland area, surround suburbs or the state of Illinois or be a participant in a JCC Chicago program (including Camp Chi, Springboard, Jewish Student Connection, etc.)
WHY: Celebrate the Jewish experience connecting your film to (one or more) of the Jewish values or themes of – trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, community, kindness, positivism, role modeling, stewardship of the earth, any Jewish holiday or historical event.