The fourth annual Louisiana International Film Festival welcomes University students April 14 with its opening night reception to celebrate students and film.
The LSU Golden Band from Tigerland and the Golden Girls will host a special performance leading a caravan of vehicles from the University campus to Cinemark Perkins Rowe at 5 p.m., where blockades will be in place for their street performance at 6 p.m.
Even with band director Roy King’s recent leave of absence, the marching band will fulfill the commitment to appear on the opening night reception of the festival.
LIFF Executive Director Chesley Heymsfield said although Louisiana is a popular destination among filmmakers, it does not house many components to the film industry other than production. Los Angeles, New York and parts of Europe contain more of the publicity, advertising and talent agency side of the big screen.
“We founded the Louisiana International Film Festival four years ago,” she said. “The original concept behind it was that students, young people, and up and coming people can have an opportunity that I didn’t think currently existed in Louisiana.”
The festival would not be possible without the support of student attendees and volunteers from all over the state.
“I think students are the absolute epicenter of building a real creative infrastructure for the state,” Heymsfield said. “The film festival doesn’t just represent a fun thing to go to. At the same time it represents opportunity — and that’s why we created it. It was founded in order to give people access to opportunity, education and exposure.”
LIFF Volunteer Coordinator Patrick Clayton is a business junior at the University. Clayton recently attended the Sundance Film Festival as a member of LIFF’s team, and ultimately wants to make his own films.
Clayton’s position involves recruiting volunteers to assist with administrative duties, community outreach prior to the festival and organizing volunteers to help with the day-to-day operations of the actual event.
He has been focusing on increasing student volunteer presence and strengthening the relationship between LIFF and the University.
Along with the band’s performance on Thursday, LIFF is hosting its free mentorship workshop classes on April 15, which includes a tour of Celtic Media Centre and various workshops at Cinemark Perkins Rowe. The tour provides an opportunity to network with industry professionals and get a closer look at how movies are made. The tour is free and open to members of the public who RSVP.
With the mentorship day, students have the ability to form connections and network.
“For students that are interested in networking, communications or film, this is the perfect job. It’s a great learning experience, great connections and opportunity,” Clayton said.
Although the film industry seems vast, he said, it really is all about who you know.
“You would think it would be a huge community, but once you get into it you realize how small it is. Everyone knows each other, and it’s a network,” Clayton said.
The sharing of ideas, conversations and discussions can only happen through congregation, which is possible through interpersonal relationships, Heymsfield said.
“At the end of the day, this film festival, if you want to turn it into the next South by Southwest, that’s going to be because the students make that happen,” she said.
All film screenings on April 15 are free for students with a valid ID. Student passes for the entire festival are $20. Among the local attendees, actor Kelsey Grammer will also be in attendance for the screening of his newest film, “Breaking the Bank,” on April 15 at 7:30 p.m.