By Jake Harvey
The Best Of: DMU's Student Film Festival
Thu 6 Aug 2020
Since 2014 Phoenix has partnered with De Montfort University on an original module designed to give students an introduction to film festivals. The Professional Practice module remains an unique idea when it comes to partnerships between universities and independent cinemas as not only do the participating students develop and programme a brand new film festival, but the festival is then delivered to the public at Phoenix as part of our curated cinema programme.
For me and the other staff at Phoenix who work on the festival it presents an interesting challenge. We have to try and give an overview of working in film but not get too bogged down in the details (who really wants to talk MGs, splits and Facebook algorithms guys?) Encourage them to think outside the box when choosing films but not let them get too hung up on a title that doesn’t suit the theme. Work with them to mould their ideas into something that also works for Phoenix but of course, not be too controlling and veto everything!
Meeting the new students each year is exciting, they bring a passion for cinema to the table; and their optimism and belief in the power of cinema and art to create change is a refreshing reminder of why places like Phoenix need to exist. With this year’s festival halted halfway through due to the pandemic, I have been looking back on previous years to pick out my favourite screenings.
The Devil Rides Out (Adaptation, 2014)
I am a sucker for any Hammer horror film so was delighted when the students chose this Christopher Lee classic for the theme of adaptations in 2014.
We screened a new restoration of the film and thanks to DMU’s impressive contact list, we were treated to a funny and suitably dramatic intro from actor and film historian Jonathan Rigby.
The Big Lebowski (Rebellion, 2015)
The Big L is always connected to good memories at Phoenix for me, and every time we screen the cult classic we get a great response.
There is a definite vibe to screenings of this film, people are more relaxed and chilled out (I wonder why?) so it was a perfect choice for the students to screen as part of our Lazy Sunday Breakfast and Film offer. People rolled out of bed, several turned up donning their dressing gowns and breezed through the building in the café, then into the screen for a blissful start to their Sunday.
Silent Running (Dystopia, 2016)
I was surprised that the students picked Silent Running as part of their programme for the Dystopia theme in 2016, mainly because to my shame I’d never actually seen it!
At the end of the screening, I looked at my friend who was in tears, I was in tears, the whole row was in tears, we went into the corridor and there was someone sat crying on the sofa. None of us were prepared for the emotional punch of that film, what a great choice.
Big Hero 6 (Sentient, 2017)
In 2017 the students went with Big Hero 6 for the school screening element of the student film festival.
It is always a challenge to programme repertory titles, even if they are only a few years old. It is a tricky balance to walk between something we as programmers/students think children want to watch Vs. what they actually want to watch.
Big Hero 6 was the perfect choice and we had a packed screening. Plus one of the students wore an inflatable Baymax costumer to greet the kids which of course went down a storm.
The Beach (Wilderness, 2018)
Maybe a bit of an odd choice to choose this particular screening because it was a bit of a disappointment but I loved that the students went for something as bold and idiosyncratic as Danny Boyle’s adaptation of The Beach.
It was a nightmare to get hold of a copy of the film and in the end we had low numbers for the screening; but the students were committed, put together a great event and sometimes these things happen and the audience doesn’t turn up.
Moana (Journeys, 2019)
One of the fastest selling events we’ve had for a student festival at Phoenix, this Saturday morning sing-along screening sold out and was as noisy and as joyful as you can imagine.
Moana was a perfect choice from the students, exploring the theme of journeys on a number of levels and they had a host of events around the screening to keep families entertained as they arrived.