Black Bird Film Festival Set for April 26
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Anderson, Ind. — The seventh annual Black Bird Film Festival will be held at Anderson University April 26. Sponsored by the cinema program in AU’s Department of Communication and Design Arts, the festival showcases the work of student filmmakers. Short narrative and documentary films will be featured.
The event is scheduled to take place in the York Performance Hall, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. for the “red-carpet experience” associated with a traditional movie premiere. The screening of the films begins at 7.
“The excitement seems to build every year,” said Jack Lugar, professor of cinema and media arts. “This has become a very exciting night for the student filmmakers as well as the growing audience.”
An annual highlight of the film festival is the awarding of trophies known as “the coveted Squawkies.” Derived from Anderson University’s Raven mascot, the awards are modeled on the Oscars of Hollywood fame. Awards are given in categories such as best picture, best director, and best screenplay.
Beginning this year, the best-picture film will be named in honor of Dr. Donald Boggs, former professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Design Arts. He retired in 2015 after nearly 37 years of service to Anderson University.
Another set of awards, known as the “Squeakies,” will be given to crew members on the award-winning films.
Trophy costs are underwritten by Lugar Real Estate in Fishers. The lead sponsor of the film festival is once again the Folgate Agency, which is owned and operated by Steve Folgate. The agency is associated with Allstate and has offices in Anderson as well as Fortville.
The Black Bird Film Festival is free and open to the public. For more information about the event, contact Jack Lugar by email or at 765-641-4343.
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.