The Cayuga Film Festival returns for its fourth year this Friday.
The two-day festival celebrates original movies made by filmmakers in the Empire State. There are four categories filmmakers are divided into high school, college, emerging (under 30), and open (30+) with submissions being made in the following genres: short documentary, long documentary, fiction, experimental, and short animation. The winning films are then screened at Auburn Public Theater (APT).
Last year, the festival launched the Cayuga Film Festival Jr which features works made by elementary and junior high students as part of the afterschool film program offered by APT and the Booker T Washington Community Center.
Juliette Zygarowicz is a festival organizer. She told Finger Lakes News Radio that the festival brings people from across the state to Auburn; it also provides a sense of community for the filmmakers.
“It’s really great to welcome filmmakers and see them watch their films at the film festival and to meet them and have them meet other filmmakers. It’s become a really big community event and almost a networking event for those filmmakers too.”
The free event begins Friday at 6:00p with the Cayuga Film Festival Jr screenings. At 7:00p, Black Barbie, the winner of the 2024 Harriet Tubman Freedom Award, will be screened with a Q&A to follow with director Lageuria Davis.
Day two begins at 11:00a on Saturday. The film screenings will begin at 12:00p with a filmmaker Q&A at 5:15p. At 7:00p, Black Barbie will be screened a second time.
Submissions are already open for next year’s festival. More information on how to submit can be found on the festival’s website.
The Cayuga Film Festival is a collaboration between APT and Cayuga Community College.
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