Blog post written by Amber Thibault, Cinema and Photography ’15, FLEFF Intern, Lewiston, Maine.

I was doing homework in my dorm, listening to Carmina Burana and, all of a sudden I started to feel uneasy. I didn't know why. I lifted my foot that was dangling off the bed and tucked it under me, preventing the monster from my childhood from snatching my foot and dragging me under the bed for a snack. I felt like something was creeping up on me. I looked behind me, nothing there. What was this feeling? I looked to my door expecting someone to barge in. Nothing. Why was I feeling like this? Then the cymbals crashed and thousands of men on horse charged into my room! 

Ok, that part did actually happen but if Carmina Burana can evoke that powerful of a feeling in me through the weak speakers of my computer just imagine what it can do to an audience member during a live concert! 

Carmina Burana is an exciting and dangerous sounding piece of music that evokes all types of emotions in it's listeners. Written by Carl Orff and based on poems and dramatic texts written by medieval student vagabonds were fed up with the Catholic Church and spoke out against all authority! You can feel their angst, anger, sweat and tears as tiptoed around Fate and his games. Come with them on their journey to climb to the highest heights and swim to the deepest depths. You won't be disappointed.

If you are a music fanatic or just someone who appreciates good music, the Carmina Burana concert is the FLEFF event for you! Featuring sixteen trombones, a baritone singer, a flautist, and a violinist, this is going to be arguably the most adventure filled night at FLEFF!

How can this be? Classical music isn't fun…or is it? What has been your experience with classical music in the past?

Blog posting by Kimberly Capehart, Documentary Studies and Production ’16, FLEFF Blogger, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

March 3^rd is only a few days away, which means that in just five days, the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase will be occurring downtown at Ithaca’s local, independent movie theater, Cinemapolis.

For those who don’t know, all profits from the showcase will go to support Cinemapolis in its complete digital conversion. Sadly, the days of 35 mm film projection in theaters are extremely numbered, and every theater that wishes to survive in the modern multiplex business needs to make sure they’re ready to compete in the digital marketplace. For Cinemapolis, this means equipping all five of their theaters with brand new digital projection systems. You can read more about the technological aspect of it here.

As suggested by its name, the Upstate Filmmaker’s Showcase will be featuring work exclusively from filmmakers in Upstate New York. I recently spoke to Carol Jennings, an upstate filmmaker herself, and the director of the Park Media Lab at Ithaca College, about Park Productions’ contribution to the showcase. 

Park Productions is a media production company stationed on the IC campus that is staffed exclusively by Park students. The company primarily works on collaborative projects with non-profit organizations within the Ithaca community. Through their client-driven work, Park Productions gives students professional experience in media production.   

In 2011, in collaboration with the Visitors Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce, Park Productions produced a series of webisodes that “showcases popular destinations” and “highlights the unique natural beauty of the Finger Lakes Region” in order to promote tourism in the region. Finger Lakes Uncorked! “follows the adventures of a fictional character Craig Vinholtz, a magician and wine enthusiast living in the Finger Lakes region of New York.”

The production team for the project was composed of students, faculty, and alumni who worked closely with the Visitors Bureau and the Finger Lakes Wine Country to produce all nine webisodes. The series, which was intended to be a “social media release,” as Jennings puts it, premiered at FLEFF in 2011 and hit the web shortly after.

Jennings says her favorite part of the festival is seeing the “continuity of students, alumni, and professionals,” much like the combination that worked on Finger Lakes Uncorked! “It’s great to see former students come back as alumni, and then to come back even later on as professionals. Everyone looks at the work of current students and can offer suggestions and talk about their past work at Ithaca.” 

Episodes one, two, and four will be shown this Sunday at the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase. They are also available for viewing on YouTube and on the project’s official website.

Jennings says she is “honored that Park Productions is included in the group of incredibly talented filmmakers” who will be showing their work at the showcase. “We have an amazing pool of talent in the area,” she concludes.

Be sure to come out to Cinemapolis this Sunday, March 3^rd to support your fellow Ithacans, Cinemapolis, and Upstate New York art!

Blog posting written by Erica Moriarty, Documentary Studies and Production ’16, FLEFF Intern, Houston, Texas

I both love and hate scary movies. Call me a masochist, but I find fun in jumping out of my chair and squealing at the top of my lungs. However, the nights following my viewing of a scary movie are not so enjoyable.

Last night, I listened to Carmina Burana right before bed, which proved to be a less than intelligent decision. As the first song, O Fortuna, played through my computer, I grew increasingly uneasy. I felt myself return to the same fear in the nights after I watched The Exorcist.

My skin clammed up from being tightly cocooned in my comforter. My refrigerator suddenly emitted demon noises. Ghostly shapes kept popping up in my closet, later to be revealed as sweaters.

To calm my nerves, I looked up more on the meaning of O Fortuna. The translation of the last line reads, “Fate strikes down the strong man. Everyone weep with me!” After seeing this, my fear suddenly subsided. Instead, I was sad.

The song wasn’t about demons or ghosts at all. The lyrics simply follow this poor man’s terrible bout of ill fate and misfortune. With this revelation, I continued with my listening and researching of Carmina Burana. My anticipation for the concert during FLEFF in a month grew more than ever before.

Which songs from Carmina Burana are you most excited to hear? Click the link to hear more!

Blog posting written by Chloe Wilson, Television-Radio ’14, FLEFF Intern, Ashland, Massachusetts.

This isn't your typical "wheel of fortune."

One of the major events of FLEFF's programming is the performance of Carmina Burana - a cantata that consists of medieval poetry (written in Latin) set to music composed in the later 1930s.  If you haven't heard it, I definitely recommend listening to it - it's a moving set of pieces (you've probably heard parts of it before) that are powerful and beautiful to listen to.

As somebody who has a background in classical music, I always enjoy getting the chance to explore new pieces of music.  When I sat down to listen to Carmina Burana, I was surprised with how familiar I already was with some of the music.  "O Fortuna!" is probably the most recognizable piece from the cantata.

I loved all of the music, but what I find most interesting about Carmina Burana is the symbolism behind the piece.  Carmina Burana is about the Wheel of Fortune - a medieval, philosophical concept that shows the cycle of life as a wheel.  At one moment, a person may be at the top.  At another, a person may be at the bottom.

This is reflected prominently in the music with how the melodies and volumes change throughout Carmina Burana.  I found the cantata to be easy to listen to because of this, and it's a piece that definitely consumes your attention.

You can listen to the full cantata here, and I definitely recommend doing so.

I'm excited for the FLEFF performance because instead of a full chorus, there will be brass instruments - like saxophones and trombones.  Have you listened to Carmina Burana yet? 

 Blog posting written by Dorothea Hinman, Cinema and Photography '15, FLEFF Intern, Rochester, NY

"FLEFF has now become something that’s fun for me. It helps me get away from the work and it’s very easy for me to talk to people, to set up a discussion." 

Truer words could not have been spoken by Jonathan Morello. I recently had the privilege of sitting down and chatting with FLEFF's very own Assistant to the Co-directors, who indeed loves discussion.

Jonathan has an undergraduate degree in journalism from Hofstra University and is now a graduate student at Ithaca College, pursuing a master's degree in Communications. We delved into everything from his background, his current responsibilities at Cinemapolis with Scott Bliss, to his responsibilities in mobilizing and helping the interns. 

Upon discussing the festival with Jonathan, it became very clear as to why Jonathan became involved in FLEFF.

"I’m studying Strategic Communications, so I’m getting my Master of Science in Communications with a focus in Corporate Communication, Strategic Communication and Management. I’m getting a lot of management experience working with all of the interns and bloggers. One of my biggest roles is working side by side with Scott Bliss at Cinemapolis. I’m working with him to sell on screen advertising. Right now my responsibilities include working through the list, calling businesses up. Some advertisers might want to renew, some people might never have heard of screen advertising or Cinemapolis before. The people I’m hitting up first are the people who want to renew. When I go out and try to find new people, I don’t cold call them. I go into the business, approach them, see if they’re interested. One of my great conversation starters is FLEFF. It’s a great plug: I say there’s going to be this huge festival, there’s going to be a ton of people from Ithaca. It's also a great way to generate conversation about the festival." 

Jonathan is just as new to the festival world as some of the first time interns and bloggers, (and that includes me!).

"I’m brand new to this. Except I started in August. It’s been fun so far, I’ve learned a lot. Definitely patience. I’ve learned how to react fast; react quickly. It used to take me a long time to send a long email, for example. Now I can fire out a long email no problem. When you’re fast at it and you can send up to 20 to 30 emails a day and talk to multiple different people, it's a plus. It’s a great experience as far as time management goes. Today I've already had a bunch of meetings in a row with the team leaders and the assistants to talk about flash mobs, and now I’m sitting down with you."

The fact that Jonathan is new to the festival this year gives him a unique angle on managing the interns. 

"A big role of mine is mentoring, putting myself in the shoes of undergraduates, and trying to help them walk through this process in the sense of learning to go from a student in a classroom to a professional working on an international film festival."

He takes his role as a mentor seriously, often wishing the interns would use him as a resource a bit more often.

"Anytime you’re feeling nervous or concerned, just let me know and we could talk through it because half the time talking through it helps. Because usually we can take it down and it’s probably not as big of a deal as you think it is. I kind of wish the intern class would communicate with me a little more, I have office hours, I send emails reminding people I am available for that. I did the one on one info sessions in the beginning to meet you guys and talk about the festival, generate your ideas, I just wish I could carry that more. It’s a resource. Even if you want me to look at your resume, professional help, professional development."

Although any new endeavor has its fair share of ups and downs, Jonathan continues to look at the whole thing as a fruitful, worthwhile experience for himself and the interns. 

"It’s very rewarding, especially working with all you guys and watching the internship program develop into something that you all can put down on your resumes. To have an opportunity to have an internship on campus that allows you to add one line to your resume with four bullets underneath is tremendous." 

Jonathan has been a wonderful asset to the FLEFF team, and has learned a lot in return. He will conclude his graduate program on June 25th after starting in the spring of 2012. 

What have you learned from Jonathan and/or FLEFF? 

Blog posting by Kimberly Capehart, Documentary Studies and Production ’16, FLEFF Blogger, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

As a freshman in college, lots of things in the past 7 months have seemed intimidating.

It was intimidating to start all over at the bottom of the social food chain in a brand new school. It was intimidating to make friends. And it was, and will continue to be, intimidating to start new classes and to meet new professors.

When I first heard of FLEFF, however, I didn’t feel intimidated. As a Documentary Studies and Production major pursuing a minor in Environmental Studies, I thought I had found the perfect opportunity.

In fact, I didn’t feel any sort of intimidation at all until I returned to Ithaca after winter break; that’s when I got really nervous. I was nervous about being the youngest person in the room. I was nervous about my complete and total lack of experience. And, above all, I was nervous to interview people.

Looking back to that time, only a month ago, and writing this now, I find all of these stressers to be comical. All of my intimidation and fear subsided as soon as I met with the blogging team for the first time. It turns out I’m not the only freshman. It turns out that I’m not the only one with zero experience. And above all, it turns out that talking to people really isn’t that scary.

It’s only been one month, but I’m proud to say that that intimidated freshman is now an enthusiastic member of the FLEFF blogging team who takes on things she never thought she would at only eighteen (her favorite of which is flash mobbing).

For anyone out there who might still be intimidated by FLEFF: don’t be! The theme of this year’s festival is Mobilities, which is all about the sharing of ideas and passions between people. And while the thought of sharing ideas may seem intimidating, it all starts and ends with conversation.  If I could do, you can do it.

Who are you looking forward to meeting and sharing ideas with at the festival?

Blog posting written by Erica Moriarty, Documentary Studies and Production ’16, FLEFF Intern, Houston, Texas

Ironically, a whole mess of I-don’t-knows and I’m-not-really-sures define my first year in college. My experience thus far with FLEFF mirrors this same uncertainty.

I applied to be a blogger simply knowing that I love documentary films and written journalism, and I knew the film festival would give me the opportunity to do both. However, I never expected the experiences of the past few weeks.

So far, I interviewed a coding genius and an animation guru. I mobbed around campus promoting the event I already love. I even learned more about social media than I thought possible to know. And the festival isn’t even here yet.

As FLEFF draws closer, I still am not sure as to what awaits me on April 1^st. Despite being debriefed every Monday from 7 to 9 by Dr. Zimmermann on the ins and outs of the festival, I cannot seem to pinpoint exactly what will happen.

I know I’ll be challenged to be more social than ever and to think in a way I never did before, but these are both very broad. I’m not sure exactly what will happen or who I will meet along the way. All I know is I cannot wait!

Perhaps I don’t know what to expect, but I think that’s the best part. 

 Blog posting written by Dorothea Hinman, Cinema and Photography '15, FLEFF blogger, Rochester, NY

When asked to reflect upon my FLEFF experience thus far, I don't know where to start. 

So far, I've had to the opportunity to interview and write about significant and influential artist, participate in countless flash mobs, Skype with international names such as Enrico Aditjondro, talk to fellow filmmakers at Cinemapolis about FLEFF and work with a close knit group of fellow bloggers.

And that's only what I've done so far.

The festival is coming up in about a month, but this Sunday, March 3rd, is the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase at Cinemapolis! The lineup was just released, check it out here! After that we will continue preparations for the festival from April 1st to April 7th. Only time will tell exactly what I have to look forward to, but if it's anything like the past two months, it will be engaging, fruitful, and flat out enjoyable. 

With all these things I have been engaged in, I have hardly had time to look back and realize how much more knowledgable about FLEFF. This time last year I heard whisperings of FLEFF from my friends and from the various social medias college students take advantage of. Little did I know that in a year I would be an important part of the blogging team, constantly receiving updates about the festival and assignments to push it out. I now feel as though I am part of something much bigger, and yet it still feels very personal and intimate. 

My time in festivals has been full of excitement, speed, social media, and conversations. I cannot wait to see what else I see in the coming months! What have you learned from FLEFF?

Bog post written by Kristen Tomkowid, Journalism '15, FLEFF Intern, Poughkeepsie, New York

One month ago today, I started my blogging internship with FLEFF. Time is just flying by and this coming weekend is already the FLEFF Kick-off Event. So much is happening now. It's about a month until the actual festival but now is the time we have of generating hype.

We've been doing plenty of street teaming handing out flyers and coupons and now we start preparing for actual FLASH MOBS!! Out of the blue, show-stopping, instant shows. Hopefully, they will be as awesome as the festival proves to be.

In our class, we've also been learning a lot about festivals in general from Cannes in France to the Sundance Festival. This class is different from others in that we take what we learn and apply it directly into the festival. Learn. DO!

I am also excited to see 5 Broken Cameras and Dear Governor Cuomo as well as work on a Derive App and with EngageMedia. These are great opportunities that I am happy to be a part of.

FLEFF Kicks off March 3rd to help save Cinemapolis! Come join us for some screenings and chats with those who worked on some of the films!

Blog posting written by Shea Lynch, Documentary Production '13, FLEFF Blogger, Glens Falls, New York

"Im into exploring the implications of the changing digital media."

Vincent Grenier will be showcasing two films for the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase series, Armoire (In 4 Parts). Combining the digital medium with an exploration in time, place and power, Grenier opens the question of reality in past, present and future.

Grenier's journey traces back to the 1970s using 16mm film. The change from film to digital has not affected Grenier's message; the exploration of digital spaces must be free and continual. Grenier personifies the technological world we live in into cohesive films, video and installations mimicking human emotion and desire.

Using 16mm, video, VHS, and HD video, Grenier is a traveling historian of technological magic, bringing the imagination of creativity to the spirit of technological innovation.

Grenier leaves us with this message: 

"Ithaca is quite fortunate to have an art movie house like Cinemapolis and that it is particularly in needs of support right now as it is in the process of converting its projectors to digital. Such conversions are costly and I hope that the March 3rd FLEFF Kick Off screening can help raise some money for it."

Blog post written by Amber Thibault, Cinema and Photography ’15, FLEFF Intern, Lewiston, Maine. 

This past week, I had the privilege of interviewing Becky Lane. Becky Lane is a part time TVR professor at the Roy H. Park School of Communications. She has submitted two works to next week's March 3rd kick-off event happening THIS SUNDAY at Cinemapolis! The event starts at 4pm and tickets are $8. 

Now a little bit from Becky Lane...

Amber Thibault: How did you hear about FLEFF?

Becky Lane: Ithaca is my home so I've followed FLEFF from it's inception. When Karen Rodriguez, the curator of the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase, program invited me to present my work, I was honored. Ithaca College has been an instrumental part of my education as a filmmaker, and I was so excited to become a part of FLEFF and screen alongside the other fantastic pieces.

AT: What is your project that you are presenting at the March 3rd kick-off event?

BL: Well I'm actually presenting two works "Hens and Chicks" and "Happy Hour."

AT: Can you tell me a little bit about those films?

BL: "Hens and Chicks" is a family film about a young girl who is a sperm donor offspring who begins to question who her father is. "Happy Hour" is teaser for a dramatic series I'm working on entitled "The Chanticleer." It's set in 1955 and one of the storylines involves underground gay and lesbian culture.

AT: I know there is going to be a whole collection of different types of works at the event this on March 3rd. Can you tell me about the kind of work you are presenting?

BL: Well, "Hens and Chicks" is a short film while "Happy Hour" is a more of a performance piece with dance and music. It tells a story about how two women make a connection that only they can see, reflecting the invisibility that was required at that time period. The series that follows will have a broader scope, reflecting the cultural and political shifts occurring at that time period, which were significant. The goal is to have distribution with some episodes exclusively made for the web.

AT: What made you interested in doing films like these? 

BL: I like to portray strong women characters, families and gender and sexualties that are usually unrepresented, misunderstood, and/or not favorable. In the first film, Hens and Chicks, I wanted to show that there are different types of well-adjusted families. For "Happy Hour" I wanted to highlight the oppression many people faced then [during the mid-twenty century in regard to their sexuality]. in regard to their sexuality]. People are resilient, though, and will find ways to live their lives the way they want. I wanted to honor that. I see these women as courageous and subversive.

Having already been aware of the suppression of women during this time period, I am anxious to see Becky Lane's physical representation of these circumstances. Also, having been involved in theater before coming to college, I can't help but loving the melding of dance and music to create an emotionally charged scene. I hope you all found this interview as intriguing as I did. Please come out and support Becky Lane and all the other filmmakers as we raise money to help Cinemapolis with it's conversion from film to digital. 

One final question: What interests YOU most about Becky Lane's projects?

Blog post written by Kristen Tomkowid, Journalism '15, FLEFF Blogger, Poughkeepsie, New York. 

 A few days ago, I had the privilege of talking with Ithaca College Associate TVR Professor and film maker John Scott. We talked about his involvement in FLEFF, both past and present.

Some background on John: He received his BFA in Film Production from Concordia University in 1990, his BA in Honors English from Dalhouse Universtiy in 1992 and his MFA in Film and Video Production from The University of Iowa in 1999. He has directed over a dozen independent documentary projects and one feature-length  documentary called The Scouts Are Cancelled. Some of John's more recent work will be shown at the upcoming FLEFF Kick-Off  on March 3rd. Below is a glimpse of our conversation together: 

Kristen Tomkowid: How did you get involved with FLEFF?

John Scott: I had a feature length documentary shown in FLEFF in 2008 and a short film in Upstate Shorts last year, but I've been going to FLEFF for years.

KT: What are you showing at the FLEFF Preview this year?

JS: One is a repeat of the short shown last year, One Art, which is part of a series of shorts based on Elizabeth Bishop poems. The other screening is of Notes on Liberty, a full length film made with his wife, Karen Rodriguez, in 2009, about a boys trip to the Statue of Liberty and how that contrasts the current immigration issues. I was always ambivalent to the Statue due to problems with immigration. I decided to make the movie because, for my son's fifth birthday, he wanted to go the Statue and I was divided about the trip. It has toured all over the world.

KT: Have you looked at this year's line-up of films?

JS:  I haven't really looked at it, yet, but I am going to try to see 5 Broken Cameras.

John's looking forward to see Emad Burnat's documentary. What are you looking forawrd to see at the festival?

Blog posting written by Erica Moriarty, Documentary Studies and Production '16, FLEFF Intern, Houston, Texas

This Sunday, March 3^rd, FLEFF will kickoff at Cinemapolis with The Upstate Filmmaker's Showcase, including two pieces by Ithaca College’s very own Jason Harrington.

Jason Harrington is a professor in Cinema, Photography and the Media Arts. While obtaining his undergraduate degree in film, he discovered filmmaking as a way to combine his previous experience in other forms of art.

“I discovered the filmmaking process allows me to put all of what I’m doing with music, painting and sculpture and allows me to put them together. Filmmaking is just this composite medium that I can do everything together,” Jason said.

After realizing the amalgam of filmmaking, he began using more and more animation. At the showcase, he plans to show two of his older animated films, The Tree With the Lights in It and My Mind. 

Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek inspired Jason to create The Tree With the Lights in It. In the book, a chapter called Seeing stuck with him. The chapter discusses the different ways in which we learn to see and how what we learn influences what we see in the world. Specifically, the chapter uses a case study of people who have cataract surgery to see.

“There’s a line in the book where the doctor takes this girl’s bandages off and leads her into a garden. She sees the tree and she sees it as full of light. I love that image of the tree being filled with light. It struck me. Then, I went with the notion of the tree and took it a step further and made it about ancestry and perception,” described Jason.  

His other piece, My Mind, explores a poem he wrote while living in Queens in a tiny apartment. Living in such a giant metropolis, yet confined to this small space, he wanted to explore the concept of scale.  

Jason commented, “My Mind is about this butterfly girl who represents the imagination. She goes on this journey which basically illustrates how she can go anywhere she wants. With your mind you can go and do whatever you want. Otherwise, you’re grounded and stuck in the same place.”

He completely hand drew My Mind, using a crosshatch style. Despite the challenging work, he finally finished the film after three years. On the other hand, The Tree With the Lights in It took about a year, incorporating a layering technique focusing on movement, design, composition and texture.

Each piece represents FLEFF’s idea of mobilities in a unique way. How do you feel that Jason’s work incorporates the idea of mobility? 

Blog posting written by Shea Lynch, Documentary Production '13, FLEFF Blogger, Glens Falls, New York

The FLEFF intern team has been hard at work brainstorming and organizing flash mobs throughout this semester. Flash mobs can be tricky to organize and mobilize but the 2013 FLEFF intern staff has been great supporters. As Assistant for Social Media Outreach at FLEFF, I have been in charge of organizing flash mobs. It has been a learning experience for all and I want to thank all the interns who continue to support our social media outreach campaign. Without you, this would be impossible.

Here is a list of past FLEFF flash mobs:

Storming of the Pub
Interns marched through the Pub at Ithaca College's Campus Center, chanting "FLEFF!" and chatting with students about the theme of FLEFF and upcoming events.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qcduVd0NcY&list=HL1360863858&feature=mh_lolz

Valentine's Day Mob
Interns spilt up into two separate groups, handing out bags of Valentines Day candy and coupons to FLEFF events at Ithaca College's Campus Center and the library.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-AP8YICcvs

What are some flash mob ideas you would like to see?

Blog posting written by Shea Lynch, Documentary Production '13, FLEFF Blogger, Glens Falls, New York

Freshmen year can be scary for anyone entering college and discovering new communities can be tricky. I found FLEFF my first spring semester here and it offered a great community for me. FLEFF has challenged me to become a more creative person and has shaped me into someone who is ready to graduate. I did not expect FLEFF to become such an integral part of my life every spring semester but I'm glad I was able to take part in the journey.

I started blogging freshmen year and never looked back. Blogging is a great way to meet new people and become immersed in the content of FLEFF. Blogging has also allowed me to explore Ithaca College and the city of Ithaca; the people and places are rich with creativity and stories.

Collaborating with Ithaca College professors has exposed me to truly unique projects most others don't get to see. Blogging about their work for FLEFF has been the most enjoyable experience. The mobilization of ideas from teacher to student is seen daily at Ithaca College but working with professors with external projects has fulfilling rewards; a unique look at the behind-the-scenes of creativity.

The Upstate Filmmakers Showcase is drawing near and the rest of the FLEFF blogging team is hard at work interviewing Ithaca College faculty involved with this showcase; one of the best event for bloggers. Curated by Karen Rodriguez, the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase features nine shorts created by professors from Ithaca College and surrounding colleges.

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Social Media Manager, Mahopac, NY

Although FLEFF is just a little over a month away, there is so much that has yet to happen. And there is so much to be excited for. At this point in my FLEFF-tastic journey, I have had a lot to reflect upon.

One of these upcoming events in particular is the Upstate Filmmaker's Showcase premiering at downtown Ithaca's independent art cinema, Cinemapolis. On March 3rd, the entire staff will come together and converge with fellow audience members consisting of local professors, other interns, and of course, the entire Ithaca community. 

People will converge. Ideas will collide. And conversation will occur.

Because isn't that what festivals are all about anyway?

Of course there are other very exciting events that the interns have been preparing for, including our efforts to revamp urban exploration in a new was using the Derive app and our positive stories that we will be covering through an exciting partnership with EngageMedia. But we will save these for later. In the meantime, let us reflect.

My role as a Social Media Manager has truly allowed me to ascertain a newfound perspective towards the idea of film festivals, and FLEFF was the perfect vehicle to explore this attitude. Festivals are fast-paced, and the only way to respond to this celerity is through the ability to adapt. You have to be pliable. The fellow interns and bloggers have understood this, and they are all so willing and eager to contribute to the festival's success.

And what a successful festival it is going to be.

Working with their enthusiasm has given me the passion to work harder, strive to serve as a positive role model, and also have a lot of fun on this journey!

What can you take away from your own FLEFF-tastic experiences?

Blog posting by Karly Placek, Documentary Studies and Production '15, FLEFF Social Media Manager, Monroe, Wisconsin 

The countdown is on. We are a little over a month away from FLEFF and the excitement among the blogging staff is palpable. 

Working as a Social Media Manager this year constantly keeps me on my toes. I'm always learning more about the personalities and passions of my fellow bloggers and my admiration for the team grows with each day. While we've only assembled as a team about two months ago, the feats we've accomplished and the bond we've created as a micro-community are truly remarkable. 

Our journey hasn't been easy. We've faced a few roadblocks with our flash mob strategies. In the beginning of the semester, we determined that many small, on-the-fly flash mobs would be effective in getting the word out about FLEFF. Theories often differ from practice. Upon hitting the streets and assembling for flash mobs, we discovered that careful planning and a larger amount of flash mob participants would actually be more beneficial. Spreading information on the streets via word of mouth does indeed work, but large, organized group events can work wonders. I've always believed that success is comprised of one part knowledge and two parts mistake. We've made some mistakes but we've learned immensely from them. We now have an arsenal of surprises for the public - so watch out! 

As the festival draws closer, I'm eager to see how the blogging staff and intern staff will collaborate together. On March 3rd, the entire staff's skills will be put to the test as we attend the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase  at downtown Ithaca's premiere movie theater,Cinemapolis. I hope all of the interns engage with other audience members and take advantage of the intellectually stimulating conversation that will take place. I have faith in the passion of my fellow interns and am expecting the showcase to be a moving experience! 

The road to come on our FLEFF 2013 adventure is sure to be bumpy - but our staff knows how to enjoy the ride. What are you eager to see the FLEFF interns overcome this year? 

Blog posting written by Chloe Wilson, Television-Radio ’14, FLEFF Intern, Ashland, Massachusetts.

Getting excited for the FLEFF March 3rd Kickoff Screening? I know I am! I'm even more excited for the screening after getting the chance to speak with Karen Rodriguez, the curator for this year's screening.  Read on to learn about the purpose of the screening, the filmmakers you can expect to meet, and the works you can expect to see!

Chloe Wilson: For those who aren't very familiar with FLEFF, can you give a quick description about what this year's Kickoff Screening is for?

Karen Rodriguez: This screening is for two things.  It starts the FLEFF season is comprised of films that have already been screened at FLEFF in the past years and that are made by local filmmakers. The second reason is that it’s a also a fundraiser for Cinemapolis.  The theater is in the process of transitioning to digital projection and we’re helping to raise money for them for their purchases of new digital projectors.

CW: Are the filmmakers from the entirety of upstate New York or specifically Ithaca?

KR: Some of them are faculty at IC, some of them are faculty at other colleges in the areas - like Hobart and William Smith Colleges.  It’s an opportunity to highlight local filmmakers and to get the FLEFF season off to a start.

CW: As the curator of this year's screening, can you tell me about your role in organizing this event?

KR: As the curator, I look at work and talk to people about what is new, what do they have available to be screened. Then once I have a list of potential films, I try to choose films that work together and that compliment each other as well as show diversity in the subject matter and also in the approach.  Then I coordinate information and such – working with the filmmakers and figuring out how to get the files from them to Cinemapolis.  I also contacted Leah Shafer and I asked her to moderate the discussion after the screening.

CW: Each year, FLEFF has a new theme, and this year it's mobilities.  Does the Kickoff Screening also have a theme?

KR: I didn’t choose a theme for the screening.  I think there are some approaches or stylistic approaches that have emerged from this group and I think there’s a strong emphasis on the visual overall, but there is no explicit theme.

 Blog posting written by Chloe Wilson, Television-Radio ’14, FLEFF Intern, Ashland, Massachusetts.

With all of the programming updates and excitement around the March 3^rd Kickoff Screening, it’s easy to get lost in this year’s festival.  And it hasn’t even started yet!

As a blogger who also documented last year’s festival, I think there are an equal amount of differences and similarities between this FLEFF and the last. Both themes are engaging (though in different ways) and encourage you to explore beyond the basic definitions we already know.

Last year’s theme of microtopias encouraged participants to discover what their personal environments are like, while this year’s theme of mobilities inspires us to travel through different microtopias to discover new worlds, perspectives, and art.

I didn’t realize the link between the FLEFF themes until recently, and I’d kick myself for being slow if I didn’t think that the link between the two themes was something to discover organically as opposed to it being thrust in your face. 

If you give yourself the time to sit and reflect about the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, I’m willing to bet that there’s a lot you’re going to discover.

Have you given yourself time to reflect on FLEFF? What have you discovered?

Blog posting by Kimberly Capehart, Documentary Studies and Production '16, FLEFF Blogger, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 

As FLEFF is quickly approaching, it's time to start giving some thought to the films YOU want to see downtown at Ithaca's very own independent movie theater, Cinemapolis. 

The full lineup of films is posted here. And while you may have high ambitions to see all 20+ films playing at Cinemapolis, due to time, space, and physical restrictions of your own body failing to be in two places at once, you're going to have to pick and choose eventually. I know, it sucks. 

It was hard enough for me to pick ONLY 3 films to put on this list, but here are my top three choices.

#1: Anak-Anak Srikandi / "Children of Srikandi" (Indonesia, 2012) - As a Documentary Studies and Production major, there's a special place in my heart for documentaries all of kinds. This documentary tells the stories of eight young queer women in Indonesia as they face various challenges in "coming out." In addition to being the first film about queer women from Indonesia, it is also the first film made by queer Indonesian women: two huge milestones from a rather conservative country. Both the film's distributor, Vanessa Domico, and producer, Laura Coppens, will be attending the festival. 

#2: On The Road (Walter Salles, USA, 2013) - Based on the novel by Jack Kerouac, On The Road tells the story of three young people as they escape the confines of everyday life by traveling across the country. Featuring hunks Garrett Hedlund (Troy (2004), Tron: Legacy (2012)), Sam Riley (Brighton Rock (2010)), and lady-hunk Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga (2008-2011), The Runaways (2010)), the film promises to win over pop culture fanatics and Kerouac-lovers alike. I once saw a documentary about writer Ken Kesey's trip across the United States in which Neal Cassady, the person who inspired the character of Dean Moriarty in Kerouac's novel, led Kesey's "merry band of pranksters." Seeing his real life persona in a very similar context makes me excited to see how Salles represents it in On The Road. 

#3: The Water Front (USA/Canada, 2008) - Another documentary, but very different from Anak-Anak Srikandi. This film explores "the story of an American city in crisis." Highland Park, Michigan, the birthplace of the auto-industry, is very close to facing financial collapse. In order to resolve this problem, one politician has raised water rates. Now, residents must deal with soaring costs of waters bills and having their water shut off. The film not only confronts the problems associated with the water distribution, it takes a look at the politics behind the entire situation, and in that way, reminds me of Dear Governor Cuomo (a film that will also be playing at Cinemapolis). The film's director, Liz Miller, will be in attendance. 

Be sure to check out the rest of the lineup so you have your FLEFF game plan all set when the festival rolls around. Also make sure to keep checking back to see the lineup of films and events that will take place on the IC campus. 

What are you looking forward to at this year's FLEFF? 

Blog post written by Amber Thibault, Cinema and Photography ’15, FLEFF Intern, Lewiston, Maine.

Let me take you on a blast into my past for a minute. Last year, I was a freshman and very new to the cinema world. It was spring semester and I had heard about FLEFF but I wasn't really sure what it was. When I thought about the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival I thought it was going to be a bunch of films about conservation and being environmentally friendly. Plus the theme that year, Microtopias, unsettled me because I didn't know what it meant. I now find it an intriguing concept but last year I had no idea what it was or what it had to do with the environment.

Then, the week of FLEFF, my Architecture of Health class screened a FLEFF film. It was definitely nothing like I expected and made me feel vulnerable. I was confused, for reasons I couldn't explain, and was curious as to why it fell under the category of microtopias and how my professor had managed to get it screened in our class.

I now know that in class screenings are common with FLEFF. They create a smaller environment that allows for more engaging with the films and discussion with others.

Towards the end of that week in April 2012, I was told by my friend (who was an intern at the time) that there was a FLEFF workshop in the Park School and I could meet filmmakers from around the world. However, I was intimidated and thought I would have nothing to say so I did not go. 

I regret that, knowing what I know now. Filmmakers are just people who want to share their films and ideas with someone. They would've have been happy if I had just shown up, but I didn't, and I'll never know the magnitude those once-in-a-lifetime discussions would have had on my life. Please don't make the same mistake I did. Come to the festival, even if you have no idea what you are talking about. Just listen. One of my favorite quotes is by Woody Allen, and most of you are probably familiar with it. He said, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." How true is that?

This year, I was determined not to let fear get in my way again. So I threw myself completely into the festival by becoming a FLEFF blogger and I'm so glad I did. In just four weeks I've learned more about FLEFF and the world around me than I ever could have imagined.

So come one, come all and talk to me! Who are you and what do you know about FLEFF? Better yet, what do you want to know?
 

Blog post written by Amber Thibault, Cinema and Photography ’15, FLEFF Intern, Lewiston, Maine.

Below I have assembled my top three list of films to see at Cinemapolis during this year's FLEFF. Your tastes may be different, but that's ok! This is just a sampling of the different types of films offered. You can access a full list of films for Cinemapolis at FLEFF 2013 Line Up To Date At Cinemapolis.

The first film I would like to see is All Together. It's a French comedy about five old friends who decided to live together to avoid having to move into a retirement home. The twist? A young ethnology student requests to live with them in order complete his degree with a thesis on the aging population. This film stars Jane Fonda, Pierre Richard, Claude Rich, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniel Brühl and Guy Bedos. This distributor Rodrigo Brandao will be attending the festival. This is a clever and enticing comedy about the life's later years that you are not going to want to miss! 

The second film I'd like to see is a little more serious. It's called Everyone's Child. It depicts the story of two children who are forced into early adulthood after their parents are killed by AIDS. Their uncle sells their plow and cattle to pay for their father's debts and the older brother and sister, Tamari and Itai, are forced to find a way to support their younger siblings. This is a thoughtful and heart-wrenching film about the triumph of human condition in the face of tragedy. Filmmaker Tsitsi Dargarembga will be attending the festival!

The third film I would like to engage in is AKA Doc Pomus, a documentary about successful songwriter Doc Pomus. He is known for writing much of the popular music that we still remember today, from big band music and classic rock and roll to love songs and classic R&B. Some of his credits include Save the Last Dance performed by The Drifters, Hushabye performed by the Beach Boys, and Lonely Avenue performed by Ray Charles along. If you like any of the songs you should check out this behind the scenes look at the life of Doc Pomus. Director Peter Miller will be attending the festival!

Don't forget to purchase you FLEFF passes at the Ithaca College Bookstore or downtown at Cinemapolis. One pass will get you into FIVE FILMS! $20 dollar discounted price for students and $40 for all other FLEFF fans.

So many films to see, so little time! Which will you choose to partake in?

Blog posting written by Dorothea Hinman, Cinema and Photography '15, FLEFF blogger, Rochester, NY

The Distributed Microtopias Exhibition  at this year's FLEFF is packed with tons of new media from talented artists from the upstate area. Nicole Antebi is one of such artists, whose piece Geography of Reclamation: An Essay in Three Parts explores the impact of dams and earthworks on the environment through animation. I was privileged enough to ask her a few questions about her piece. 

Dorothea Hinman: I was wondering if you could go into depth and explain this piece in your own words. 

Nicole Antebi: In Geography of Reclamation: An Essay in Three Parts, I locate the term “Reclamation” both historically and geographically. I use animated drawings in tandem with archival audio tracing the changing term “Reclamation” through the work of Floyd Dominy (Dam evangelist and head commissioner of the Bureau of Land Reclamation from 1959-1969), David Brower (First executive director of the Sierra Club and someone who believed strongly in an aesthetic connection between people and place) and Robert Smithson (The influential Land Artist who coined the term “Earthwork”). Through their monumental gestures, these three figures make a case for both the utilitarian and aesthetic function of their respective projects. As we grapple with the future of dams and earthworks, the animation weaves together, for better or worse, their monumental imprint on the landscape of the west.  The video is as much about “the case for wildness” as it is for art making.

DH: Your animation style is very distinct and indicative of the theme of the video essay. I was wondering if you could explain your art background and how your artistic style evolved into what it is today?

NA: For as long as I can remember I've been trying to make objects that move and tell stories.  I made my first animation a few years ago.  The animation, entitled Uisce Beatha, is a fantastical biography of William Mulholland, suggests that the chief water poacher of the LADWP, until 1928, may have in fact been “UISCE” (pronounced whiskey)– the half man, half horse Irish trickster who searches for unsuspecting riders to drown in inland bodies of water.

This project led to other biographies of the grandiose and destructive ways in which water has been conjured in the west.  I like using animation to explore these histories because it is well-suited for expressing transgressive boundaries (human/non-human, fantasy/reality) and bringing to life histories of which there is no original documentation.

DH: Could you please explain your decision to promote environmental issues like reclamation through art? Personally, I don't think there's a better venue than through art and media, but what is your reasoning?

NA: I’m agnostic about the word reclamation.  The term and it's ideologies have changed drastically in the twentieth century.  What once described the belief that all free-flowing water should be captured and diverted before arriving at the sea has somewhat appropriately been reclaimed to mean habitat and watershed restoration.  I'm fascinated by this.  The idea that one word can carry so much meaning and yield so much wreckage, and then with time, come to represent a different set of values altogether.   I don't think of my project as solely "environmental." To a large extent, I think I’ve always been interested in excavating subjects, figures, etc. who represent a kind of monumentality and whose stories are largely fixed–I want to know if there is anything left to say about these bloated subjects/histories/places. 

Make sure to check out her piece as well as the other works in the exhibition. Not only do they ignite conversation on important environmental issues, but they do this through unique forms of art employed through new media. How do you think art and new media is changing the conversation about environmental issues?

Blog posting written by Dorothea Hinman, Cinema and Photography '15, FLEFF Blogger, Rochester, NY

FLEFF is looking better than ever. 

Perhaps I'm biased because this is the first year I've been involved in the festival, but it doesn't make the assertion that this is going to be the best festival yet less true. FLEFF's partnership with everyone's favorite movie theatre, Cinemopolis, has allowed for an incredible line up of films to be screened during the festival. More than twenty films and I have to pick the three I am most excited for? It was hard, but here's the verdict:

1. Sherlock Jr. (Buster Keaton, USA, 1924) with Fe Nunn and Friends and Cynthia Henderson

Who doesn't love the classic, old Hollywood comedian? The hilarious tale of an underdog trying to prove his innocence in a crime he did not commit is guaranteed to bring the laughs as well as a trip back to the golden days of Hollywood.

2. Upstate Filmmakers Showcase, with filmmakers Vincent Grenier, Jason Harrington, John Scott, Becky Lane, Arturo Sinclair, and others TBA

If patience is a virtue, then I'm not very virtuous. At least when it comes to waiting for FLEFF! April 1st may seem a far way off, but March 3rd is just around the corner. It's the festival's kick off event, featuring works form artists in and around the Ithaca area, mentioned above. Certainly an event to look forward to!

3. Couples (Korea, 2011) with Director/Writer Yong ki Jeong

Maybe I'm on a comedy kick, but I don't speak Korean, and this movie still looks hilarious. This being a comedy film from Korean just shows the versatility of the 2013 festival.

Make sure to check out these films and the slew of others being featured at Cinemapolis this year! Can you pick your top three out of the list? I challenge you! 

 For the Distributed Microtopias Exhibit, Ali Kadhum created the video, Under the Microscope. This video looks at Arab Spring in a different way. This short three minute video takes the uprisings and turns them into art. Kadhum did this by focusing on sounds. He uses an illustration of the Middle East for his main visual. The picture shakes and glows along with the sounds which vary from sirens to chanting. It is a good representation of the civil unrest.

As a native from Iraq, Kadhum lived around unrestful life like this for sometime. He made this video to share his experience and thoughts in that world with the rest of us.

In the end of the video, a bee comes and starts infecting the picture of the Middle East by turning it red. He showed, through this simple way, just how much blood has been shed across that area. Hopefully, these deaths will soon end. Maybe some of these deaths will end if Obama comes through on his promise of bringing half our troops home.

 In October 1917, the Bolsheviks rose up to receive total power in Russia from the government. Before this could happen, much had to be done. The monarchy had to be overthrown and creating a need for a new leading body. This was to be a big year for the people of Russia.

Eleven years later, Sergei Eisenstein partnered with Grigori Aleksandrov to create October:Ten Days That Shook the World. Shot in a documentary style, this silent film depicts Russia during this time of turmoil. With a story covering from February 1917 to November the same year, everything is seen about this revolution. Since the filming was only a short time from the actual events, there is a realism that is added. Buildings are the same as they were during the revolution and many of the people in the film were actual participants, including Red Guards, soldiers and sailors, in the uprisings.

Rotten Tomatoes gave October an 86 out of 100 based on critics reviews and an 80 out of 100 based on audience reviews. Critics on the site say that although it may seem hard to watch in today's world, it is still an impressive piece of work and well worth the watch.

This year at FLEFF, Eisenstien's October will be one of the two silent films played. Since it is a silent film, it will be accompanied by Ithaca's own Cloud Chamber Orchestra. Watching October should prove to be an interesting experience since you will be seeing movies the way they were originally created to be seen. 

How do you think it will be?

Blog posting by Erica Moriarty, Documentary Studies and Production '16, Houston, Texas

Great music? Beautiful cinematography? Compelling stories? Name just about anything, and FLEFF will have it this year.

Personally, my list of interests is insanely eclectic. Yet, this year’s line up includes at least one movie covering nearly every interest. Somehow, I managed to narrow them down to my top three.

1. Wild Style

This 1983 hip hop film produced by Charles Ahearn, covers everything a hip hop dancer like myself would want to know about the genre. The film showcases quite a few big names from the decade such as Fab Five Freddy, Lee Quinones and Lady Pink. Love any part of hip hop culture from MCs to b-boys to graffiti? This is one film any hip hop lover won’t want to miss.

2. Silenced Voices :Tales of Sri Lankan Journalists in Exile

Here in the United States, I know I can be a journalist with very little repercussion. Freedom of speech allows me to print and upload essentially anything on my mind. Sri Lanka is a very different case. This film explores journalists risking their life to practice their profession. Silenced Voices is a must-see for any budding journalist.

3. Habibi 

I am one sucker for a love story. Habibi does not fall short of the ultimate “chick flick”, but the film also presents the interesting human rights issues surrounding traditional and religious environments. As Qays and Layla fight for their love, they must choose between their people and their heart. Habibi is perfect for those who root for the star-crossed lovers.

Be sure to check out the rest of this year’s line up! Which films are you most excited to see? 

Blog posting written by Shea Lynch, Documentary Studies and Production '13, FLEFF Blogger, Glens Falls, New York

Joy to bitterness. Hope to grief. FLEFF's exclusive Carmina Burana show premiers Tuesday, April 2nd and the performers, Ithaca College's Brad Hougham and Deborah Martin, are hard at work planning the event, continuing to tweak the 25 song setlist and choreograph the many trombonists that will accompany this performance. Tonight, they gave interns a discussion on the poems and a preview of the music.

Written between the 11th and 12th Century, Carmina Burana is a collection of over 250 manuscripts from students and clergy; sexual, satirical, and full of youthful mischief. These poems explore the human reality of lust, pleasure, and pain of Western European youth. Infused with Monteverdi, Canto Gregoriano and Stravinsky, this musical contata is a unique experience.

FLEFF will be inviting Jairo Geronymo back for a two-piano performance, this time accompanied by violins, percussions and flutes; a diversified look at music and emotion. FLEFF interns will also be creating new media art for projection during the performances. This will be a show like no other, stay tuned for more updates!

What are you looking forward to most?

 Blog posting written by Karly Placek, Documentary Studies and Production '15, FLEFF Social Media Manager, Monroe, Wisconsin 

This is a continuation of my interview with Enrico Aditjondro, writer/producer/content manager for EngageMedia and Jury for the Distributed Microtopias Exhibition. Please check out the first part of our interview where we discussed Null_Sets and the prize selection process here! 

Aditjondro shared some opinions on new media and secrets of working for EngageMedia, a major media hub based in Indonesia that focuses on human rights and environmental issues. 

Karly Placek: So EngageMedia allows voices from many different countries to be heard. How will - or is - EngageMedia changing the world? 

Enrico Aditjondro: We don't know whether we're changing the world or not yet. When people watch the videos, that's when true change begins. EngageMedia is about video distribution, not video production. A lot of people are producing videos but they're not being watched by the right people. The NGO's, organizations, and other activists are producing many videos - which is great, but they're only being watched by their fellow group members. Activist videos being watched by activists - we want to go further than that.

KP: And how do you go further?

EA: Well that's where  distribution, promotion, and making videos accessible to the right people comes into play. Sometimes getting your videos watched by five senators means a lot more than one million views from people in L.A. You have to know who you're targeting. EngageMedia is actually working with MIT to do research measuring video impact. Hopefully we can come up with a way to see exactly how a video impacts individual communities. 

KP: Where do you see the future of video distribution sites such as EngageMedia? 

EA: The future is mobile. Mobile internet, mobile phones. Everyone and everything is going mobile - which can be a bit difficult for us. We're independent, which means we make our own software that can be expensive. We're in the same arena with giant sites such as Youtube and Vimeo. All video sites have realized that people are producers now, not just users. If all of our producers are using mobile internet, we have to do that as well because that's where the future lies. However, at EngageMedia we remind ourselves that there are many great producers out there who lack computers. We want to help videos throughout places such as the indigenous communities in Borneo and Malaysia be distributed for others to see. We need to create various initiatives that can be used both online and offline.That's where mobile technology will help. 

Special thanks to Enrico Aditjondro for his time and insight. Do you agree with Aditjondro? Do you think the future is mobile? 

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, NY

What's the best part about FLEFF? Meeting the guests, of course!

Yes, the films being screened are fantastically exclusive, but it's even more exciting to meet the people behind these films. And that's why I have composed the following list:

1. Evan Meany - Current Ithaca College alum and winner of the Distributed Microtopias Exhibit, Evan Meany will be making an appearance as a featured guest of the festival this year. An aficionado of transmedia design, Meany explores the mobilities of glitches of all kind, from the abnormal to computing technology. He will be showcasing some new media art and representing Ithaca alumni everywhere.

2. Jon Bowermaster - No stranger to film festivals, Jon Bowermaster is going to be present at Cinemapolis alongside the screening of Dear Governor Cuomo. He's traveled the world (both land and sea), is an award-winning journalist, and currently works at National Geographic. Who wouldn't want to meet him!?

3. Yong ki Jeong - Director/writer of Once Upon a Time, Jeong will be available to speak on behalf of this comedy heist following a con artist and a jazz singer. Considering the history this film has had in Korea, who better to promise an interesting conversation about the film than the director himself?

By no means does this imply that I am not excited to meet other guests because, let's be honest, I am beyond ecstatic to meet everyone I possibly can during FLEFF week!

But these are just some people to look out for. Who are you guys excited to meet?

Blog post written by Amber Thibault, Cinema and Photography ’15, FLEFF Intern, Lewiston, Maine.  

Upon a further conversation with Anne Spalter, artist of Sky of Dubai, she divulged more about why she was inspired to recreate the modern landscape:

"Part is trying to acknowledge what the landscape looks like and then also technological ways of moving through the landscape. So some of my earlier work I have drawings that are of mountains but I took all the photos from an airplane. So it's about that perspective you never could have had before. The viewpoint is modern. I take photos and shoot video driving in my car flying in a plane, helicopter, from high rises in the city. Points of view and ways of moving through the landscape that are modern."

So your videos were prints originally?

"Originally I scan in charcoal and pastel drawings and made prints. But it seemed like without the 3D perspective and just the pattern, it got very flat. I wanted some way to have some sort of motion and space in it and that's when I began doing the videos."

Can you tell me more about 3D perspective and why it is so important to your work?

"When you look at a photograph you have a sense of space because things that are parallel in the real space converges at a point. If you use a camera or do a drawing, an aesthetic representational western style, you have that way of making a sense of space. The receding lines are joined together, objects are overlapping, there are a bunch of visual cues that give you a sense of 3D space. 

In Islamic artwork they are mostly not interested in representation. Their religious artwork is forbidden to use representation. So their art is more abstract. Calligraphy and patterns, a lot of interesting tiling and geometrical patterns. Some of it's intuitive mathematics, and I was a math major as an undergraduate at Brown so it's always really appealed to me. It's just a sense of organization, a higher order and rationally describing space."

Is there a reason that the last shot of the film is static?

"When you're experiencing the landscape in the artwork, there's all different types of motion. Such as in a painting you might have different types of brush strokes to evoke different feeling. For me working with the video the different types of motion are like the brush strokes of the video.

For me it's sort of more the internal part, that's all from me and not from the landscape. It's more of the subjective internal feeling about the experience and the straight video shots are made to be more objective. All the pieces are a back and forth between external and internal landscape - the objective thing that you see and also the internal part for me as an artistic, how I'm feeling and experiencing the landscape. It's not like a documentary, it's very personal."

After talking to Anne, I feel enlighten about the intricatcies of the modern landscape. I grew up in the middle of the digital age, but, after talking to Anne, I feel like I've never really seen the world around me.  I've never thought about how artistic all the different modern structures around me can be. I've, also, never known a time when I couldn't use computers to create media, so I've taken for granted how powerful they are in creating a relationship with the world around you and sharing that relationship with others.

How do you, or would you, use art to personalize your own experiences in our modern world?

 Blog posting by Kimberly Capehart, Documentary Studies and Production '16, FLEFF Blogger, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

I recently had the opportunity to pick the brain of aforementioned upstate artist, Samantha Raut, whose project Art is Atrocity was displayed in FLEFF's Distributed Microtopia's Exhibition.

Taking a satirical approach through the use of tacky billboards, Raut gathered attention on the recent budget cuts that resulted in cuts to fine arts programs in the Syracuse school system. Read what the artist had to say about this project and what kind of attention it received. 

KC: To start, what is some of your other work? Is it all as thought provoking as Art is Atrocity?

SR: A lot of my past work has been through storytelling and mainly animation. Usually what kind of is the core of that is I really want to take social issues or traditions that we have or go along with as a society and I end up flipping it. Art is Atrocity follows that same sort of storyline.

KC:  What made you decide to take such a satirical approach to the project?

SR: I was trying to figure out what was the best way to catch people’s attention and keep it. That’s one of the most challenging aspects of doing something like this. If I took a straightforward approach, just saying, “Art is good,” I would probably just get a pat on the back and people would just move on. If I took it in the complete opposite direction of what people think, people would think it was crazy. I saw how effective satire was in other areas of media, for example, Stephen Colbert, and The Onion and decided to roll with it. It’s very, very effective.

KC: What have reactions to the project been like?

SR: Most of the reactions that I got were very negative. They didn’t outright see that it was satirical. There were a few out there that caught on the first time around and contacted me. Some contacted me with anger and hatred, but backed it up with stories about how art changed their life. When I told them, under my alias, they were very, very happy. People believed it because there are outrageous groups out there that exist.

KC: As far as you know, have there been any changes made in the Syracuse school system?

SR: As far as I know, I don’t think that there has been. I would have to probably dig a little deeper and look at their new budget. The point of this project, it’s my first almost “activist” piece, it’s very new to me, the medium was very new, my main goal was to get people to talk about the issue amongst themselves and to create a dialogue, which I think is the first step to any lasting change. The people who wrote to me after the project said that the project was circulating around their school places and work environments as a topic, which is what I wanted.

To check out the project for yourself, head on over to the Art is Atrocity website. And to look at more of Samantha Raut's work, you can check out her own personal website. 

What are your reactions to Art is Atrocity?

Blog post written by Amber Thibault, Cinema and Photography ’15, FLEFF Intern, Lewiston, Maine. 

Interviewing Anne Spalter, artist of the the Sky of Dubai, was an incredibly insightful experience. In my previous blog I talked about her work and in some ways I was correct in my analysis. However, as I expected there were certain nuances of her work I missed. 

What theme were you going for with the piece?

"All of my work is about modern landscapes and the Dubai landscape is super modern. It's basically all high rises. I think they are building a park now but when I was there, there was no greenery. It's like a science fiction environment so it really appealed to me."

Why does the modern landscape appeal to you so much?

"When people think of the landscape they have a sort of nostalgic, romantic version of the landscape - they edit out the technological things in it. I am fascinated with those things. When you're driving and you see the grass and the cows and the trees I would be looking at the telephone poles and the water towers and the radio towers and all the weird technological stuff in the landscape. One of the best things anyone's said about my work is that they see the landscape differently now when they drive through it that they see those elements more."

How did you get interested in the kaleidoscope effect?

"I was invited to Dubai two years ago and we [her husband and herself] were part of a cultural exchange weekend and my husband promised them the gift of artwork as a thank you. At the time I was doing a traditional western 3D perspective and drawing representationally and I thought 'Oh if going to involved the country I should bring something less representational, more patterned.'

I used my drawings, I scanned them into the computer and I began to play with them and started using the kaleidoscopic pattern and I really like them. I love islamic artwork so that was the beginning of it and I made a portfolio of prints to the head of the media there and he loved them."

Was the helicopter ride part of your cultural experience?

"I went two years in a row, the first year I wasn't making the video work and I just went on the tour and I thought it was very cool and the second year I was like oh this is perfect I'm gonna videotape from the helicopter. I'm there with all these super rich executives and I elbowed my way through the crowd so I could sit near the window of the helicopter. I was like, "No I have to be here."

I put my camera up against the window and I found out, which I didn't remember from the first time, that the helicopter windows are tinted blue. I tried color correcting for it but I ended up really liking it so I went with the blue. It makes it feel like it's sort of underwater almost, like other worldly feeling and you're in the sky...

<pause>

It just seemed to fit the feeling of the piece."

Part two of my interview with Anne Spalter coming soon. In the mean time:

What does modern landscape mean to you and how do you feel about the modern landscape we live in today? 

Blog posting written by Shea Lynch, Documentary Studies and Production '13, FLEFF Blogger, Glens Falls, New York

It's finally out! The FLEFF 2013 line up; featuring movies from China, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Korea and more.

Fresh at FLEFF: FLEFF 2013 Line Up To Date at Cinemapolis!

Don't forget, March 3 is our kickoff event, featuring works from Becky Lane, John Scott, and Jason Harrington 4 p.m. Cinemapolis.

March 3 FLEFF Kick Off Screening!

Also, festival five passes are now in the IC bookstore, $20 for IC students. They are also down at Cinemapolis, $40 for non-students.

Movies to be excited for: 

October (Sergei Eisenstein, USSR, 1928) with Cloud Chamber Orchestra

Amazon Gold (USA, 2013)with director Sarah Du Pont

Everyone’s Child (Zimbabwe, 1995) with filmmaker Tsitsi Dargarembga

Blog posting written by Chloe Wilson, Television-Radio '14, FLEFF Blogger, Ashland, Massachusetts.

One of my favorite parts about FLEFF is the festival's partnership with Ithaca-based theater Cinemapolis.  It's one of my favorite downtown spots - I frequent the place all the time - but I'm even more excited to head down during FLEFF because of the great programming the theater is offering!

Here are three FLEFF films at Cinemapolis that I'm most excited for:

1. Dear Governor Cuomo

The film is both informational and emotional - it discusses the dangers of fracking in the state of New York while also including the spoken and musical testimonies of those affected by fracking.  "Dear Governor Cuomo" features celebrities like Mark Ruffalo, Natalie Merchant, Melissa Leo, and many other New Yorkers Against Fracking.  If you love concert films, documentaries, or New York in general, this film is worth checking out.

2. Once Upon a Time

No, it's not the ABC show of the same name.  This Korean comedy heist follows various individuals - including a jazz singer and a con artist - as they each try to steal a diamond from the government.  The critically-acclaimed film is set in 1940s Korea, but don't think that the political drama of the time period makes this film any less fun to watch.  You can check out the trailer (with English subtitles) here!

3. Sherlock Jr.

FLEFF is well-known for its tradition of showcasing silent films that are accompanied by live musicians and this year - the film is "Sherlock Jr.". A comedy that originally premiered in 1924, the film stars Buster Keaton as a man who falls for a beautiful girl and when her pearl necklace goes missing, he imagines himself the detective who solves the crime.  Time Magazine named "Sherlock Jr." one of its Top 100 Films of All-Time and I can't wait to see if I agree.

Based on the current programming list (which you can find here), those are the films I'm excited to see!  What are some of yours?

Blog posting written by Shea Lynch Documentary Studies and Production ’13, FLEFF Blogger, Glens Falls, New York

Co-curator of the Distributed Microtopias Exhibition, Professor Dale Hudson has been working extensively with FLEFF since 2007, translating each season’s theme into a cohesive body of work. Partnered with Sharon Lin Tay, the duo has worked with artists from all over the world.

“In some ways, this year's exhibit responds to the techno-utopianism or cyber-utopianism of the the mid-1990s that imagined the internet as a democratic space where information and knowledge could be distributed equitably to everyone without being utterly naive or indifferent to the built-in controls of these technologies and platforms,” said Hudson.

The Distributed Microtopias Exhibit is a learning and sharing experience for the artists and the curators. This season will be an unusual one as artist Rico Aditjondro selected Null_Sets, a collaborative piece with an Ithaca alum, Evan Meaney. 

It is often challenging, said Hudson, tackling key concepts for each piece and presenting them in this “transcultural space.” 

“Each piece in the exhibition can be experienced individually, but the exhibition works even better as a whole.  Many of the pieces address similar concerns from different perspectives,” said Hudson.

Hudson also utilizes the Dérive app in exploring his own environmental spaces at the New York University of Abu Dhabi, where he teaches film and new media studies, and connecting it to the theme of FLEFF. 

“Connected to FLEFF's theme, the Dérive app facilitates research into the mobilities of urban planning that shape our experience of everyday life.  Many of the concepts behind the design of the city were derived from British colonial ideas of space transmitted through and refashioned by postcolonial Egyptian ideas of space,” said Hudson. 

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Blogger, Mahopac, New York.

I recently had the opportunity to Skype with Shambhavi Kaul, a continuation of this blog post.

After joking about the almost too-idyllic introduction of being able to pick up a camera at the age of five and instantly fall in love with the art of cinema, Kaul and I discussed a few things, ranging from what inspires her as an artist, some analysis on her piece, Scene 32, and how the piece fits into FLEFF's theme of "mobilities."

To begin, I asked her a question most artists are quite familiar with: what inspires you? Kaul responded with quite a powerful answer in which she stated, "meaning within cinema is produced in part by presenting both the familiar and the unfamiliar. The unfamiliar is usually what we take for granted, the aspects upon which the familiar becomes possible, the moon, animals, certain backdrops...my interest is to re-circulate these aspects while resisting the frames by which we claim to understand them."

Scene 32 also makes vivid use of both HD video and 16mm film. Upon elaboration, Kaul explained that "Film and video are two totally different mediums. When you put them next to each other in a deliberate way, their modes of description begin to seem imperfect and thus meaning is made unstable.” 

This only reinforces her place in the exhibition as part of the mobilities movement. Cinema travels, and it is one of the original modes of portability in the way it has become enhanced. “The deluge of images that was once thought to exist only in the darkened rooms of theaters is now all around us. In all this, I think of my work as acts of recirculation where a resistance, perhaps a counter argument to some modes of appropriation may be enacted.”

As for plans for the future, Kaul is working on yet another exciting new project shot in Southern California and Northern Mexico. "It's a piece about borders and landscapes, and how they affect each other," she explains. "What pertains to meaning in landscape? This is something I definitely plan on looking out for. Are you?

Blog posting written by Kimberly Capehart, Documentary Studies and Production ’16, FLEFF Blogger, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 

A series of controversial billboards recently caught the attention of passerbys in Syracuse, New York. 

A part of FLEFF’s Distributed Microtopias Exhibition, Art is Atrocity is the latest project from upstate digital artist Samantha Raut. The project uses satire to focus on the issue of fine arts programs being cut from the Syracuse school system due to recent budget cuts.

Raut utilized billboards around the city to capture the attention of everyday people. Each bland, white billboard states “Art is Atrocity” in a standard serif font, followed by a link to the project’s website.

Upon visiting this website, users find themselves on a homepage that reminds me of the good ol’ Windows 97 days. Through exploration of the drab, archaic-looking site users can read all about director (and Samantha Raut's alias) Samuel Ruta's mission to inform the people of Syracuse about the need to remove fine art education from the local school system. Or at least it seems that way.

Guised by it’s satirical web design, the site actually provides a link to a page that reveals the truth behind the project. The aesthetics of the project, from the billboards to the website are purposely "horrendous" as Raut puts it, in order to "get people thinking about how valuable art and music is to us as a whole." 

I'm a big fan of Raut's ironic usage of crude aesthetics in the project, and I think it serves well as an attention grabber and a conversation starter. Judging by the "responses" page of the website, the project has definitely sparked many responses from both angry art education-supporters who misunderstood the project as well as praise from those who understood and appreciated Raut's unique approach to presenting the issue.

Check back soon for coverage of my interview with the artist herself! Have you or anyone you know seen any of the project's billboards? 

Blog post written by Kristen Tomkowid, Journalism '15, FLEFF Intern, Poughkeepsie, NY.

Arab Spring was big news the past two years, but we have been hearing less and less about it recently. I interviewed artist Ali Kadhum about his work on the subject for the Distributed Microtopias exhibit

Kadhum created the video Under the Microscope as a response to the suppression and inhibitions the Arab world went through and is still going through. As an Iraqi citizen, Kadhum was a part of this world and because of this he saw the reason behind the uprising.

Kristen Tomkowid: Are you happy with the result of Under the Microscope?

Ali Kadhum: I am very satisfied with the result.

KT: Do you think you will do more to further the project? Like creating a series?

AK: Yes, there is a lot of work about this theme in my exhibition that includes a seven part series of video art and experimental works that have been produced by an organization. Now, it depends on whether there are other organizations which can fund the project.

KT: Are you working on anything new?

AK: Right now there is an experimental film about the American invasion of Iraq. It is a series of work which includes Iraq after war.

"As human beings we are trapped in a grid, drawn by political and social events."-Kadhum's webpage 

What are your thoughts on Arab Spring and our invasion of Iraq? Leave a comment with your thoughts!

Blog posting written by Erica Moriarty, Documentary Studies and Production '16, FLEFF Intern, Houston, Texas

Just by opening a laptop, we are presented data with the goal of processing that data into information. But what happens in between during that process?

More importantly, what gets lost?

Null_Sets looks at the gap between data and information. The data is represented in the computer, or the quantities. The information is the more human aspect – how we interpret data.

Alongside Evan Meaney, Amy Szczepanski took on a new project to explore this gap between data and information. As Shawn explained in the previous part, Null_Sets takes a text as data and turns it into a jpeg image file. The project is a new form of art that puts large-scale data through an aesthetic lens. However, computer coding is the backbone behind this project.

Essentially, the team takes the 0s and 1s that is data to computers and translates it as the image instead of the text. According to the project’s website, you can see Hamlet as a jpeg and find meaning with the literature’s computer code. One could say the pictures look at how we interpret what the computer does.

However, looking at the image does not solve the question Shawn posed. Instead, new questions arise. When the computer translates the data, does it become information? Or is information only valid when we interpret it?

What do you think? When does your data truly become information? 

Blog posting written by Shawn Steiner, Film, Photography, and Visual Arts '13, FLEFF Intern, Elkridge, MD

Imagine that before you leave for work your roommate says that he/she is going to make soup for dinner. You get excited wondering what kind and mentally prepare yourself for the meal. But, when you arrive at home you find a series of bowls on the counter. One has broth, one has chicken, one has noodles, etc…

That’s not soup. That’s data.

Now, because you are starving you elect to just compile the ingredients yourself. Now you are looking at a nice, steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup. That’s information.

Evan Meaney and Amy Szczepanski with their project Null_Sets took on the idea of data versus information. What is what? And is it really?

So, if we look at this analogy of data and information and look at Null_Sets we can make some comparisons. 

The project takes the text as data and converts it into a jpeg image file. Simple enough concept. The text must be data and the image is the information.

Wait. The original text is a book. Isn’t that information? It takes words and creates meaning with them. It seems to be both.

Now, the jpeg image must still be information, right?

But what if you could re-process the image and convert it back into the original text document? Wouldn’t that make it data?

It seems that data and information are very difficult terms to use properly. It also seems very situational.

But, another question is what is the original data?

Is it the 26 letters that make up the alphabet? So wouldn’t everything written be a derivative of that data. So everything isn’t quite as original as we thought.

Is everything a copy? Is everything data? Is everything information? 

What do you think?

Stay tuned for Part 2, written by fellow blogger Erica Moriarty.

Blog posting written by Erica Moriarty, Documentary Studies '16, FLEFF Intern, Houston, Texas 

She’s no artist.

In fact, her background is in mathematics and computer science. However, Amy Szczepanski, a professor at the University of Tennessee, helped mobilize the different worlds of visual arts and computer science last year when she won the Jury Prize in FLEFF’s Distributed Microtopias Exhibition .

Szczepanski and Meaney joined forces to produce the award winning Null_Sets, a project that explores the gap between data and information using digital images. According to Szczepanski, the idea for the project stemmed from an interest in combining large computing with Meaney’s work in the visual arts.

Szczepanski said, “The pictures look at how we interpret what the computer does.”

She went on to explain that the project takes the 0s and 1s the computer uses to understand data and looks at it from pictures instead of text. The data that is represented by a computer is numbers in quantity. Null_Sets makes the information more human by interpreting it in an aesthetically pleasing way through images.

The project looks at several ideas, including the gap between data and information. In looking at this gap, the idea of the glitch particularly interested the pair.  

“The glitch looks at what went wrong in computing,” explained Szczepanski. “By understanding the glitch, we get a better sense of how things should be.”

Now, Szczepanski continues to look at what went wrong through the collaboration of different areas of expertise. She utilizes this year's theme of mobilities by moving between multiple areas of expertise to make a collaboration. Through her persistent work on Null_Sets, she mobilizes the discussion of artists and scientists everywhere. 

In addition, Null_Sets physically moves. Through coding, text moves into images, creating a true representation of the movement of people, ideas, objects and environments. 

Blog posting written by Shawn Steiner, Film, Photography, and Visual Arts ’13, FLEFF Intern, Elkridge, MD 

I’m not the only person coming back to FLEFF this year!

Evan Meaney is a professor of transmedia design at the University of Tennessee. And, he is both an Ithaca College graduate and FLEFF alum. He will be returning this year due to his involvement with Null_Sets, winner of the Distributed Microtopias jury prize.

First, what is transmedia?

Meaney described transmedia as the communication of ideas through different forms. It has a lot to do with everything. It includes the science behind the work, the math in the program, and anything else that may be involved.

An interesting definition. Now, what is the big deal with Null_Sets?

He said that people are obsessed with ordered sets. Which makes sense, we like being able to understand information. But, this takes that data and converts it over to a new form (this time a jpeg image file). Now, we can look at and compare two things in a new way. Or we can simply look at the image created by a text file of Moby Dick and be intrigued with how pink is turned out.

And being familiar with the idea of FLEFF themes, Meaney has his own take on Mobilities.

Meaney was immediately reminded that there are so many systems in place to keep people from moving. 

What immobilities can you think of?

Update: Profile: Amy Szczepanski written by Erica Moriarty. Stay tuned for a joint post on Null_Sets.

Blog posting written by Karly Placek, Documentary Studies and Production '15, FLEFF Social Media Manager, Monroe, Wisconsin

New media mogul Enrico Aditjondro thinks the future of media is mobile. Do you?

I was recently privileged to chat with Enrico Aditjondro, writer/producer/content manager for EngageMedia  in Indonesia. While it may be a winter wonderland in Ithaca, NY, it's rainy and hot lately in Jakarta. Aditjondro juried for the Distributed Microtopias Exhibition , which recently announced  Null Sets by Amy Szczepanski and Evan Meaney as the Jury Prize winner. I was eager to get the scoop on the exhibition prize selection process as well as the outlook on the future of new media. Enrico answered all of my questions and gave me more to think about regarding Mobilities. Check out part of our interview: 

Karly Placek: So why did you choose Null Sets for the Distributed Microtopias Exhibition Prize? Also, could you explain the selection process? 

Enrico Aditjondro: Well I collaborated with Dale [Hudson, exhibition curator] to analyze the work. Null Sets stood out because it found an interesting way to represent numbers and data visually. This project was trying to make numbers look cool and exciting, which is very hard to do! It also utilizes materials already online in places such as Google Libraries  which was what we were looking for as well. You want to create something new but there are a lot of resources already out there to utilize. 

KP: What impressed you the most about the overall work of the artists? 

EA: The artists had a tough topic to address. It's not every day you have to think about a subject like microtopias. It had to have been challenging for participants to come up with ideas. They all put in a large amount of work to make creative projects that addressed the idea differently and looked stunning visually. 

Coming Soon: Part Two of our interview, where we discuss EngageMedia and the rise of new media! 

Blog posting written by Chloe Wilson, Television-Radio '14, FLEFF Blogger, Ashland, Massachusetts.

If you haven't gotten the chance to check out FLEFF's Distributed Microtopias Exhibition, I highly recommend you do so!  It's a great collection of media that explores the world in new ways.

Over the weekend, I got the chance to talk to Ezra Wube, one of FLEFF's featured exhibition artists. Two of his pieces, Hidar and Mela, are featured in the Distributed Microtopias Exhibition.

Here are some quick quotes from Wube in regards to himself, his work and his thoughts on FLEFF.

On his artistic style: "I was trained in painting as an undergraduate, and in graduate school I got really interested in video and photography and performance - so my work is generally a combination. Usually [my work] is hand-painted or drawn and it's a performance in how I'm documenting my progress in life."

On Hidar's inspiration: "It's based on a piece of literature - the Fikir Eske Mekabir. I'm always trying to find a way to keep my past together with the present, so it's like bringing this book - I was really inspired by a chapter of it.  It's like bringing a way of communication to life."

On how he relates to FLEFF's theme of mobilities: "I'm originally from Ethiopia and now I live in the U.S., I'm always in this back and forth between here and there so most of my work reflects the idea of mobility or movement. Like the difference between home and your always continued flow."

Definitely check out Wube's work on the FLEFF website - and also on his online portfolio!  Which one of his works is your favorite?

Blog post written by Amber Thibault, Cinema and Photography ’15, FLEFF Intern, Lewiston, Maine.

Entrancing.

That is the first word that came to mind when I watched Sky of Dubai by Anne Spalter. This work is part of the Distributed Microtopias Exhibition. I feel this film really lends itself to this theme as the city literally feels like it's being distributed.

Click here to watch the film.

After I got over the dizzying effect and utter hypnosis I thought about what I had just seen. 

The film starts out "normal" but quickly grows into a more abstract, borderline in psychedelic, piece. At one point you have no idea where you are anymore. The original image of flying over the city disappears and you are left with swirling objects and spinning images.

It took me watching it a couple times to realize that the last shot is a static shot - the only static shot in the piece. I believe it serves to brings the viewer back to reality, so that the viewer doesn't walk away completely disorientated. 

I'm not sure what to think about the blue. I couldn't decide if it made me feel calm or added to the dizzying effect. But overall, the piece swallowed me whole. I felt absorbed by it and found myself asking, what does this mean? What is this film calling attention to? I felt like it had my attention and I wanted to know more.

I will be interviewing Anne Spalter, the creator of this piece, next week, but in the mean time:

What do you think the piece addresses?