Huntington Film Festival Attracts Crowd to Cinema Arts

A crowd of movie lovers turned out for Huntington High School’s fourteenth annual film festival at Cinema Arts Centre. The audience was treated to 18 short films over the course of one hour, including some really spectacular works by an experienced group of students.

“It was a very exciting evening at the newly remodeled Cinema Arts Centre,” said teacher Heather Swan, who heads Huntington High School’s video arts program. “I was so proud of all of my video students and the incredible display of films we were able to present to our community.”

This year’s film festival received positive reviews from those in the crowd, which included high school Principal Brenden Cusack. The screened films were well-crafted, witty and thought-provoking, igniting much discussion afterwards in the lobby.

Freshman Emma Polinsky screened her film on the Blue Devil girls’ track and field program. “I’m very excited that my film is being shown because I put a lot of work into making it,” the teenager said. She won a Blue Ribbon Award for the film at last week’s district art show.

The festival’s complete lineup included:

• “Angie” – Director Inspired by Danielle Mendikyan

• “Mormon on a Mission” – Five Obstructions by Landry Flynn

• “Cryptic Kids” – Reality TV Show by Riley LaCosta

• “Taking the Wheel” – Short Story by Katerina Damiano

• “Hot Pockets” – Commercial by Jeremy Allen, Bladimir Cruz Serrano, Alex Castillo Martos, Kenny Galvez, Saul Leon Flores

• “HYB: Many Dreams, One Team” – Documentary by Samuel Klaaren

• “Dance with Death” – 8mm/Film Noir by Landry Flynn

• “Endzone” – PSA by Riley LaCosta

• “A Lock and a Hard Place” – Five Obstructions by William Berry

• “Counterfeit Money” – YouTube Tutorial by Ethan Ambrosio

• “Huntington Girls Track” – Documentary by Emma Polinsky

• “Baller” – Five Obstructions by Danielle Mendikyan

• “The Scarf Killer” – 8mm/Film Noir by William Berry

• “The Lovers” – Art Movement by Riley LaCosta

• “Garlic Bread” – YouTube Tutorial by Christian Chabla-Leon

• “The Call” – PSA by Michael Mendikyan

• “Lovestruck” – Short Story by Katerina Damiano

• “Stitched Up” – Mystery by Katerina Damiano, David Nielsen Goldstein, Riley LaCosta, Danielle Mendikyan, Michael Mendikyan, Finn O’Brien, Heather Swan, Joey Zink – Period 7 Class Project

Those in the crowd scanned a QR code and voted online for three awards. Seniors Danielle Mendikyan and Katerina Damiano announced the Best Acting Award went to “A Lock and a Hard Place” by William Berry. The Best Editing Award was won by “Stitched Up,” a seventh period class project film. The Best Film Award was garnered by Ms. Damiano’s short story, “Lovestruck.”

Send a message to Mrs. Swan at hswan@hufsd.edu for more information about Huntington High School’s video arts program.

The film’s screened at the festival can be viewed at this link: https://youtu.be/O2J49_g2Qfk