The 2017 Princeton Student Film Festival will be held Wednesday, July 19, and Thursday, July 20, at Princeton Public Library. Screenings will begin at 6:30 p.m. both nights in the library’s Community Room. Many of the filmmakers will be in attendance to answer questions about their films.

The 14th annual festival features 22 short works by high school and college students from the Princeton area and throughout the United States. Some films by international entrants are also featured. Final selections were made from nearly 150 submitted works in a broad range of styles and themes. Genres include animation, comedy, dramatic feature, documentary, experimental, personal narrative, and thrillers.

The student film festival “is a great chance for student filmmakers to show their work to a live, appreciative audience, to share their insight and get valuable feedback,” said Youth Services Department Head Susan Conlon, who coordinates the event. “There is a strong emphasis on local filmmakers, and we also include films from other regions because youth benefit from viewing broad perspectives and filmmaking techniques as well as recognizing universal ideas. The films are inspired and imaginative and reflect the filmmakers’ commitment to developing their visual and technical craft and the art of good storytelling.”

Films to be shown by local high school students include History of the Princeton Garden Theatre by Aaron Baseman, Princeton Day School; Kimmi on Worldliness by Everett Shen, Princeton High School; and 24 Hours After 3 PM by Trevor Weng, Princeton High School.

Some of the films by college students include Anywhere But Here by Ian Lettire, Rutgers University; The Bucket by Taylor Brown, SUNY Purchase; The Last Playboys by Luke Momo, Fordham University; Portrait of a Painter by Kyle Jacobson, Rutgers University; What’s Right./? by Dominic Mistretta, Rutgers University; Un vase à Chinatown by Jeremy Hung, NYU; and Head Space by Emma Huibregtse, USC.

International selections are by filmmakers from South Africa, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Following each night’s screenings there will be an after-party in the library’s café featuring refreshments provided by The Bent Spoon.

A selection of these films will be shown on Thursday, September 28, at Princeton Garden Theatre as part of the 2017 Princeton Student Film Festival.

The Princeton Student Film Festival is intended for teen and adult viewers. Admission is free. For more information, see www.princetonlibrary.org/psff.

All Princeton Public Library programs are free and open to the public.

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