Orange Coast College student filmmakers will see their work displayed on the big screen as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Triangle Square Cinemas in Costa Mesa.
The annual showcase, known as "OCC Shorts," features short films produced entirely by OCC film and television students. This marks the 23rd year that OCC has participated in the Newport Beach Film Festival, where it was the first college to present films. OCC is one of seven colleges and universities represented this year.
“We are extremely excited and proud of our student selections this year,” says Film and TV Professor Erik Forssell. “We’ll be celebrating fifteen unique short films created over the past year — a fun and diverse mix. It’s truly special and a real thrill to see student work showcased for an enthusiastic public audience.”
The Film and TV Department supports students’ creative endeavors by providing access to state-of-the-art equipment, including 6K cameras, studio spaces, a TV studio, as well as lighting, sound gear, and editing labs and suites.
Fifteen short films created by OCC student filmmakers were selected to be part of OCC Shorts. The entries were chosen by a committee of film instructors, who narrowed down the finalists among dozens of hopefuls looking to snag the highly coveted spots.
The student films, ranging from 2 to 15 minutes in length, include titles such as “Alpha Calf,” “1980 WHO: Toy Making Magic,” “Shoot Your Shot,” “Okay, Die.,” “Interviewing a Star,” “King of the Court,” “OC Punk Shit,” “Flower Street,” “Playing With Fire,” “Así Somos,” “Moneyshot,” “Mr. Sticks is Back in Town!,” “Santa Claus Gives You A Million Dollars In Heaven” and “Prisms and Light.” The directors of these films are John Prichard, Steve Metz, Amir Esteban Toumi, Ashley Paola Celaya, Deni Silva, Marissa Van Malderen, Isaak Askenaze, Morgan Ramos, Vanessa Yvette Reyes, Asher Twardowski, Isa Gallegos, Jordan Pieter Bourges, Kai Bixby, Stuart Scranton, Tanner Lee Shelton, Chelsea Emery and Peter Wada.
“The Film & TV Department greatly appreciates the Festival for its continued support of our filmmakers,” says Forssell. “Thank you to our Collegiate Programmer, Laura Weinreich, and to NBFF! See you at the movies!”
Learn more about OCC Shorts on the Newport Beach Film Festival website.