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Film Program extends support to Walker’s “Women with Vision” Series

Written by Jenny L. Hanson

March is Women’s History Month.  The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis is hosting some pretty awesome women and featuring their film, media, and artworks all month long.  After closing out February with an event series on acclaimed filmmaker Julia Reichert, March brings the work of an early queer film influence of mine, filmmaker Cheryl Dunye to the screen.  The Walker will also take a look back at the Women with Vision series, and continue the Indigenesis series focusing on indigenous film that opens with what reasons to be a fun new media adventure curated by Missy Whiteman.

A key component of this year’s programming is “Women with Vision: Then and Now.” The event series features the cinematic work of some of the women who participated in the Women With Vision showcase (also known in its early years as Women in the Director’s Chair).  It also celebrates the curatorial work of Walker Senior Curator of Moving Image Sheryl Mousley.  Minnesota’s own Film Fatales Melody Gilbert and Kelly Nathe, who curated many of the events in the series, will also be hosting a candid conversation with filmmakers about their journey.  I might also note that among the filmmakers is Augsburg instructor Jila Nikpay!

Computers encoding media
Hanson is utilizing the program’s media lab to encode media for Walker Event.

Curating the work of filmmakers who identify as female, who are persisting as directors, cinematographers, and storytellers and creating space for people to see the films is important work.  The film industry has notoriously discounted the work of women and persons of color.  Movements like #MeToo and #OscarsSoWhite have sought to bring about change.  Events like those at the Walker this month are part of what is needed if a systematic change is going to occur.  I know this first hand, as the Walker gave me one of my first film screenings as part of the Women in the Director’s Chair and the Jr. Home Girls Series many, many, years ago. It gave me hope as a young queer filmmaker that I could make a living creating films.

So, when we were asked to help transfer work for the event series, we were happy to offer our support.  This kind of equity is exactly the kind of thing our program embraces and seeks to live out.

Please show your support at these events, many of which are free. Visit: walkerart.org for more details.


Films nominated for Student Production Awards from the Upper Midwest Emmy® Foundation

Crystal Pillar Award for College-Fiction
Upper Midwest Student Production Award from the Upper Midwest Emmy Foundation for “Monday Train” Photo: Sarah Van Sickle

Written by: Sarah Van Sickle

Congratulations to all of the Augsburg students that were nominated for a Student Production Award from the Upper Midwest Emmy® Foundation! Nominations were announced today and Augsburg has six nominations in five categories. The Upper Midwest Chapter of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences recognizes outstanding achievement in student filmmaking. While Augsburg has been nominated before and won twice, this is the most nominations the University has ever received. The 2019 Student Awards Ceremony takes place on April 12th.

Augsburg nominations are as follows:

Short Form: Fiction

“Cycle,” directed by Winston Heckt; editing/sound by Lukas Olson; written by Lauren Tabor; and advised by Robert Cowgill.

“Fairy of the Night,” directed by Joel Myers and advised by Jila Nikpay.

Long Form: Fiction

“Take Me Home,” written/directed by Rebecca Lynn Schroeder; editing/sound by Lukas Olson; camera/editing by Winston Heckt; produced by Francesca Chiari; assistant director Meredith Carstens; production design by Olivia Drury; and advised by Jenny Hanson.

Commercial

“Lets Talk,” directed/produced by Adrianna Foreman and advised by Jenny Hanson.

Animation/Graphics/Special Effects

“Rodney and Jimmy and the Campfire,” directed by Joel Myers and advised by Jenny Hanson.

Editor

“Amusement,” edited by Joel Myers.