It is the morning of April 4th, 2014. The Visions4 staff moves around UNCW’s Fisher Student Center and Lumina Theater setting up for the day’s event. Catering soon arrives, providing filmmakers, scholars, and guests a hearty breakfast, with plenty of coffee, of course. As breakfast concludes, Lumina Theater slowly but steadily fills with Visions4 and UNCW faculty, guests from around the community, and a diverse crowd of undergraduate students, filmmakers, and scholars from around the world. As the last few badgeholders venture into Lumina, everyone settles into their seats, waiting now only for speaker Kiva Reardon to begin her eagerly anticipated keynote presentation.
After a brief, warming welcome from Festival Director Shannon Silva, and Hospitality Director Zoe VanderPloeg, it is finally time for the Visions4 experience to begin. Eight months of extensive preparation and hard work arrive at this point in time. What does the day hold in store?
What would define the day’s success?
V4 staff member, Kateland Lee, introduces Reardon to the Lumina audience. A thunderous roar of applause greets the Visions4 keynote, setting a tone that reverberates throughout the day’s events--from Reardon’s brilliantly original, insightful, and witty presentation, to the after party at Bourgie Nights in downtown Wilmington, NC.
It’s fourth year now in the books, Visions Film Festival & Conference has become not only a beneficial experience for the undergraduate film student, but for the future of filmmaking and film scholarship overall. Highlighting the exceptional, innovative work of young filmmakers and scholars, Visions has again provided an exclusive, sneak-preview of the creative minds that will soon head the medium in narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental production, as well as film theory and research. Reardon expressed her own thoughts on the day, “I was so impressed with the festival, from the programming, to the organization, to everyone's overall enthusiasm and professionalism. I was honored to be a part of it.”
Visions4 exceeded a day full of amazing films, presentations, people, and food--the experience and benefit of the undergraduate filmmaker and scholar remains, and will always remain, at the heart of the Visions mission. Filmmaker Jon Kasbe, director of the award winning documentary selection Heartbeats of Fiji, voiced an overall positive experience throughout the filmmakers and scholars: “The festival was incredible, I was so impressed with every aspect of it. It was very special for all of us.” The ability for Jon, as well as every filmmaker, scholar, and undergraduate in attendance (including the V4 staff), to gain invaluable experience inside of the festival/conference atmosphere, which, at times may seem intimidating or unwelcoming to a young artist, is a significant accomplishment. Visions4 has offered undergraduate artists a welcoming introduction to an environment of travel, film screenings, Q&A sessions, and presenting to large audiences, strengthening any future aspirations in filmmaking and/or scholarship.
All of these elements make a case for the success of Friday, April 4th. However, the strong relationships formed between the staff, keynote speaker, guests, filmmakers, and scholars seem to encompass all elements of the day, regardless of how flawless or smooth, no matter the level of applause. There was an immediate connection, a bond of like-minded individuals that will surely be cherished for years.
On behalf of the Visions4 staff, I would like to extend the highest level of gratitude to all those involved in making this year's festival and conference truly amazing. As the year comes to a close, we are left to sit back and reflect on these past eight months. But don't get too comfortable--Visions5 will soon be in full swing along with a few new faces come the Fall. So stay tuned...
We shall be back!
Steven Gamble
Marketing Content Director
Visions Film Festival and Conference
