Excremental toothpaste tubes, computer programs with the power to annihilate mankind and dancing at a funeral were a few of the topics that illuminated the silver screen of the Red Vic of San Francisco in celebration of the annual Film Finals show on Aug. 18.

The showcase put on by the SF State Cinema Department kicked off its 48th year by presenting a collection of documentary, experimental and narrative films.

The purpose of the Film Finals is to present a well rounded display of the type of work generated from the cinema department, said Kara Herold, who teaches the cinematheque management class responsible for orchestrating the competition.

“It creates competition among the students,” said Herold, 39. “It’s validating if your work gets chosen to be seen at Film Finals.”

Herold said preparation for the showcase begins in early spring with the cinematheque management class of approximately 20 students. The class spends the semester organizing, promoting, scheduling and curating the film previews show that take place in the middle of May.

Specifically, the class works to organize cinema students to submit films to the previews contest.

Film previews take place for two full days at which time faculty and students watch endless movies. A panel consisting of three faculty members and three students judge the films along with the audience who provides a popular vote.

“From that two days of screenings, “the best” are chosen, and that’s what Film Finals is,” said Herold, while raising both hands to make quotation signals to explain that “the best” was based on opinions.

Herold stated that approximately 50 films were submitted to the previews section of the contest this year.
Mary Kate Monahan was one of the directors whose work was featured at the film finals festival at the Red Vic.

Monahan, 29, based her film, “Flying Lesson,” on the death of her father. The film illustrates a young woman’s relationship and emotions of her father’s passing through the art of modern dance.

The master’s of fine arts at SF State said that she spent $5,000 to finance the creation of the film, which was used for materials and equipment.

Despite the fact that the students did not receive any reward beyond presentation of their film at the festival, Monahan said that the exposure is a big enough prize in itself.

“Any chance to show your work and gain exposure is a big reward,” Monahan said, standing in front of the theater. “For those who worked on it to see it on the big screen is huge.”

While Monahan may have chosen to shell out thousands of dollars to make her film, other finalist directors like Matthew Sevilla were able to finance their films on a much smaller budget.

“Zero dollars,” Sevilla, 22, said proudly while raising a zero shaped hand to his right eye. “I knew I could make this film for free, so I did it.”

Sevilla’s film, “1 New Message,” brought roars and chants of enjoyment and validation from the crowd after screening. The film centers around human dependency on computers and the eventual downfall that could ensue because of it.

The 6 minute, 37 second film uses a combination of animation and images of historical and new age events to convey Sevilla’s message.

“I realized that computers are such a strong medium these days, and how everyone just depends on them,” Sevilla said. “So I figured I could further that into a narrative or story.”

Films showcased at the festival ranged from approximately 40 seconds to 40 minutes. The longest of the films shown was the final film by Anders Osteerballe titled, “Milo’s Wheels.”

The film centers on a child, Milo, who works together with a man who runs a junk yard to complete a go-cart that he began with his twin brother before he died.

Movie goer Chase Ottney, 22, said “Milo’s Wheels” was one of his two favorite films seen this evening.
Ottney’s other favorite film was Sevilla’s “1 New Message.”

“It felt like something really important,” Ottney said of “Milo’s Wheels.” “[During the film] I had to piss really bad… couldn’t go.

WINNING FESTIVAL FILMS
“Toothpaste”
Ijah Garfield

“Retrato de Noa”
Bethynia Cardenas

“First Film School”
Chris Bannister

“Unplanned”
Gairo Cuevas

“1 New Message”
Matthew Sevilla

“Burrito”
Kevin Jones
“With A Movie Camera”
Michael Lutman

“Pasa la Voz”
Amara Dan

“Flying Lesson”
Mary Kate Monahan

“Memento Mori”
Tim Gotch

“Milo’s Wheels”
Anders Osteerballe