Visions Response

Visions Film Festival & Conference is truly a remarkable event, and it is arguably the flagship course within the UNCW Film Studies curriculum. I have now been a part of Visions for three years now (1 year as an attendee, and 2 years as a Visions employee). Over the years, I have seen tremendous growth in the programming and execution of the event. After working in the programming department this past year, it was very pleasing to see previous Visions “alumni” submit other works and wanting to be a part of the festival again.

Since I work for Visions, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend all of the blocks that were asked from this course, including the Keynote (Caroline Roberts), Conference Blocks 1 + 2, Film Blocks 1 + 2, and the Video Race + screening.

First of all, I think Caroline did an extraordinary job as far as energizing the crowd and providing wonderful insight and advice for breaking into the film industry. Then, I think the momentum carried into Conference Block 1 in which there were excellent papers being presented. If I had to choose one, Julia Petuhova’s presentation on the copycat programming in Russia would be my favorite. As an Everybody Loves Raymond, I was naturally pleased and excited to read her paper when it was submitted; however, I had yet to see Exporting Raymond, the text that she uses as the primary source of her writing. So, I read her paper, bought the film (and watched it), and re-read her paper. She makes some great points throughout her paper and presentation, and I was ultimately pleased with her presentation.

Arguably, one of my favorite experiences of the day occurred in Film Block 2 (right before we closed out the night). There was a sequence of films that generated a response from the audience of which I was hoping. Ceiling Finger and Frogboy both drew sounds of excitement and laughter. I felt the same way when I first saw each film, and I was hoping others would have the same experience. I am pleased that they did.