From WKU Film.

At the end of April, WKU student filmmakers in the BFA and BA programs will have the opportunity to have their short films shown on the big screen. 

The 2024 WKU Film Festival will start on Thursday, April 25 and end on Saturday, April 27. Tickets are $5 per night and can be purchased at https://alumni.wku.edu/wkufilm24. 

According to Sara Thomason, WKU film coordinator and assistant professor, the film festival gives students the opportunity to have their films showcased in a professional setting, and lets students connect with alumni and community members who support the arts in Bowling Green. 

“These films represent the hard work of over 100 film students across our two programs and it’s a great way to celebrate their achievements,” Thomason said. 

Films made by 2nd year BFA students will be shown in the Jody Richards Hall Auditorium on April 25 at 6 p.m. Films made by 2nd and 3rd year BA and BFA students will also be shown at the JRH Auditorium on April 26 at 6 p.m.

Senior thesis films will be shown in downtown Bowling Green at The Capitol on April 27. Red carpet photos for senior film students will start at 6:30 p.m. and the film showing will begin at 7 p.m.

Senior BFA student, Christian McCormick, is looking forward to showing his senior thesis film “Lifeblood” to his friends and family at the end of the month.

For over a year, McCormick has dedicated himself to writing and directing his project, intent on telling the story in the right way. 

McCormick describes his film as a “queer thriller,” centered around a transgender boy in high school who deals with bullying as other students find out about his identity. 

McCormick, who came out as transgender in middle school, said that some of the personal tribulations he faced in his journey are presented in this film.

“A lot of the fear of the unknown and this question of safety that I go around with in my everyday life was kind of the inception of the film,” McCormick said. 

In his film, McCormick wanted to give his protagonist an “unrealistic power,” to hopefully let other transgender people feel seen and empowered in their own lives. 

“If I can give a fictional person a little more agency, then maybe other trans kids can feel agency and a little more safety,” McCormick said. 

Boston Enderle, Haley Vaughn, Ella David and Spencer Nunn worked alongside McCormick in the pre-production and post-production process. 

“This year’s film festival should have something for everyone,” Thomason said. “We have comedies, horrors, thrillers, dramas…anything you could want to see, we’ve probably got it.”

Overall, the festival is an opportunity for students to show off their hard work and gain professional experience. 

“There’s a lot of value in storytelling and in experiencing stories from other perspectives,” Thomason said. “I hope the WKU campus community and the larger Bowling Green community come out to support our filmmakers and see the films they’ve created.”

News Reporter Madison Carter can be reached at [email protected].