By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
Coming soon to a theater in Burlington…
… a film from Saudi Arabia?
After opening up the biennial Chocolate City Film Festival this year to all entries, organizer Matt Nie got a firsthand lesson in the reach of social media and the World Wide Web.
“Up until now, I kept it United States, mainly Midwest,” Nie explained. “I figured, why not go international?
“Through the power of the internet and social media … the response was just through the roof.”
Nie started accepting submissions in January for the contest. By the time contest entries closed this past Sunday, he had more than 1,800 submissions.
Now the challenge will be to narrow the entries down to the top 3-5 entries in each of seven categories.
“My job as contest director is to pare down the finalists and send them to the judges,” Nie said.
The film festival will wrap up at Plaza Theater in Burlington Sunday, June 7, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Awards will be given in student public-service announcements/commercials, student music videos, student animation, student documentaries, student dramas/trailers and in community/open genre.
It’s the third film festival, which runs every other year on the odd year on the weekend following ChocolateFest – though this year will be two weeks removed.
Nie, a multi-media teacher at Burlington High School, has gotten local celebrities to step up, including actor and director Ron Kohlman.
The expansion of the event to international entries seemed only natural to Nie.
“I’m thrilled that Burlington is on the map internationally,” Nie said. “That we have people submitting from all over the world.
“I never thought that we would be such a magnet for international submission,” he added. “It just turned out to be beyond comprehension.”
There is no cost to attend the event, though attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable donation for the Love Inc. food pantry.
“We have such a great venue,” Nie said. “And it’s a free event.
“There’s something about coming together … the communal experience,” he added. “And it’s for a great cause.”
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