By Jack Armstrong ‘15

The Sherwood Film Festival is returning for a second year on Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Ertzman. This year the festival is continuing to expand its recognition, significantly upping prizes as well as advertising in other schools to help increase turnout. The event is free and will showcase student-created short films from high schools across MCPS.

“The festival aims to provide a forum for student films to be shown to a larger audience,” said Literature as Film teacher Christiane Lock. “Kids are already making movies, for classes or for fun, and it’s important that students have [this opportunity].”

Senior Kajal Kaushal enjoys making short movies and is submitting a narrative film in the festival. “My favorite type of films to make are definitely comedic narratives. Anyone who’s met me knows I’m kind of a goofball and that’s because I love to see people smile and hear them laugh,” said Kaushal. “Making comedies helps me do just that and it’s the most amazing feeling in the world to see someone smiling at something I worked so hard on.”

The last day for submissions is March 20. Films can be 12 minutes or less in four categories: narrative, documentary, music video and animation. “Films are judged by people unassociated to the school including an actor, artist and film industry professional,” Lock said. Submissions are judged on the overall basis of quality and creative ability.

The Film Festival has partnered with Interlochen Center for the Arts, a summer camp program and arts boarding high school, to offer a grand prize of a half scholarship to one of the Center’s film programs. First, second, and third place prizes will be gift cards. Winners will also receive a free 2015 film festival t-shirt.

This year the festival is supported in part by funding from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, which granted the festival $900. A significant portion of the money will be used for advertising the event as well as for prizes. Student volunteers help organize and plan the festival, and help to raise money. While the festival has already received two grants, from the PTSA and Montgomery County Humanities Council, the festival has continued to hold numerous fundraising nights at local businesses to raise the needed funds for the event.