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DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University student-filmmakers will screen and discuss their works at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 during the 15th Annual OWU Documentary Film Festival. The free event will be held in Benes Room B of OWU’s Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, 40 Rowland Ave., Delaware.
All of the student-filmmakers were enrolled fall semester in the university’s Ethnographic and Documentary Film and Filmmaking class, taught by Mary Howard, Ph.D., professor of sociology/anthropology, and Chuck Della Lana, director of media services.
“The film topics were as diverse as the students who made them,” said Howard, herself a documentary filmmaker.
“It is a testimony to Ohio Wesleyan and a joy to me and Chuck in our 15th and final class that these six students worked so hard and so beautifully together,” said Howard, who is retiring in May after 33 years with the university.
Documentaries scheduled to be screened at this year’s festival are as follows. Please note that some of the films contain language and content intended for mature audiences.
7 p.m. – “A Home Away from Home,” directed by Raissa Kanku, a junior from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Without the work of volunteers, some organizations would not exist. Such generous people create spaces that become homes, communities, and support for all involved. This film examines the role that volunteers play at Common Grounds Free Store in Delaware, Ohio. (10 minutes)
7:25 p.m. – “I am a Banana,” directed by Molly Berrey, a junior from North Canton, Ohio. A banana is an Asian who is “yellow” on the outside, but “white” on the inside. This documentary is a think piece on Asian adoptees and their place in familial relationships and America. (21 minutes)
7:50 p.m. – “Behold: The Humble Ohio Bee,” directed by Isabelle Ammendola, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio. Local beekeepers share their love and stories about honey and bumble bees. (12 minutes)
8:10 p.m. – “Ground Fill,” directed by Ethan Baskes, a first-year student from Bexley, Ohio, and Hussain Khatai, a senior from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. This film works to uncover the depths of manmade health risks with a focus on frack waste. (20 minutes)
8:35 p.m. – “Columbus Fresh,” directed by Will Fairbanks, a senior from Ann Arbor, Michigan. This short film documents the up-and-coming art scene within the city of Columbus, Ohio. (15 minutes)
Learn more about the Ethnographic and Documentary Film and Filmmaking class at www.owu.edu/soan.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 90 undergraduate majors and competes in 25 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through Ohio Wesleyan’s signature OWU Connection program, students integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives” and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.