Students get free passes to CayFilm
Claire Cox (centre) with her CIFEC students, Keith Jernigan of The Security Centre (second from right) and CayFilm festival director Tony Mark (far right)
(CNS Local Life): Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC) and John Gray High School students will be attending this weekend’s CayFilm International Film Festival for free thanks to support from a local company. The 30 students received general passes, which gives them complete access to all film screenings, panels and workshops on the three event days, from 30 June to 3 July.
The young people are being sponsored by The Security Centre, which has been providing protection and transportation for the festival since its inception in 2015.
“CayFilm is an exciting event for everyone on the island but it provides a really unique opportunity for students who are thinking about exploring a career in the film industry,” Keith Jernigan, country manager at The Security Centre, said in a festival press release.
“There is so much talent among our local students and without exposure to events like CayFilm, we risk it going unnoticed,” he pointed out, adding, “We’ve always enjoyed being involved because it’s such a unique event for Cayman.”
Claire Cox, who teaches art and design, and creative media production at CIFEC, said she is both excited and hopeful about the opportunity for her students.
“It will be great for students to be exposed to a wide range of films. They are lucky to get the chance to learn from professional filmmakers and take part in some exciting workshops,” she said.
“I hope they come away with a greater understanding and appreciation of film, and that they are inspired to get involved in some local productions. Maybe we will see their films at CayFilm in a few years.”
Industry professionals scheduled to appear at the festival include actor Wes Studi (Dances With Wolves, Last of the Mohicans, Avatar) who will be conducting an acting workshop; Loren Carpenter, Oscar winner and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios; Jim Hart, writer of Hook and Bram Stoker’s Dracula; and Adam Kane, director and producer of such shows as 24, Being Human and Pushing Daisies.
CayFilm events include daily film screenings, question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers, panel discussions, workshops, a celebrity gala and an awards ceremony.
Category: Film
