California State University, Northridge’s “Senior Film Showcase” returns after being delayed by two years by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 30th film showcase, on Sept. 14 in Beverly Hills, is a screening of five student films created during the pandemic.
“Filmmaking has always been a ‘think-outside-the-box’ industry,” said Nate Thomas, a cinema and television arts professor and head of the Film Production Option at CSUN, in an Aug. 31 press release. “The pandemic only reinforced that lesson for our students, who had to tap deep into themselves to find ways to tell their stories. I am incredibly proud of what they have accomplished.
“As their films demonstrate, they have the skills to tell those stories effectively. As members of the entertainment industry, they will add new voices and perspectives to those who already entertain and sometimes provoke us with their filmmaking.”
The host for the evening is director-writer-producer Mark L. Lester, a 1968 CSUN alumnus (with a bachelor’s degree in political science). His directing credits include “Roller Boogie” (1979), “Firestarter” (1984), “Commando” (1985), “Armed and Dangerous” (1986) and “Showdown in Little Tokyo” (1991).
The student films:
- “A Beautiful Sin,” directed by Ahmad Jack Almazeedi
- “Cuffed,” directed by Parker Caston Jr.
- “El Mozote,” directed by Jasmine Galdamez
- “A Mas No Poder,” directed by Ruben Fuentes
- “Hot Latin Nights at the Granada,” directed by Franco Vidal
If you go:
- 8 p.m. Sept. 14
- Free, but reserve a ticket here, bit.ly/3RBRiGo
- Samuel Goldwyn Theatre at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills
CSUN Department of Cinema and Television Arts, in the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communications, 818-677-3192.