In the overcrowded world of film festivals, students might have a difficult choice deciding where to spend their money to see upcoming filmmakers, but one festival this weekend won’t require a ride on the 1 train. The Columbia University National Undergraduate Film Festival is a recent addition to Columbia’s campus, but it is already nationally recognized. CUNUFF (pronounced C-U-nuff, they would like you to know) is back this Saturday night for its fifth year with new leaders, a new budget, and new focus.
This year’s compilation of 10 short films, chosen from over 100 submissions, is in no way short on talent. The variety—a mix of comedies, claymation, and silent films—never bores, and the line up is a testament to the high quality of young filmmakers working today.
The “N” of the acronym is not ignored, as all 10 submissions, none of which are from Columbia or our southern neighbor New York University, hail from different schools and from seven states across the nation. Prasant Varghese, SEAS ’10, stresses the festival’s uniqueness: “there are other film festivals on campus, but their goal is to showcase Columbia filmmakers, which is an admirable objective—but this is really a pure film festival.”
Though none of the films selected are from Columbia, the CUNUFF members never forget where they are based. “We have always discussed the tone of our festival—should we make it more serious, charge more, move it somewhere else? But we want to keep it always accessible to us, to undergraduates,” explains co-president Lili Gu, SEAS ’10. Elizabeth John, also SEAS ’10 and the other co-president, agrees: “Since it’s a national festival it brings everything that the nation has to offer in film to the Columbia campus.”
CUNUFF has come a long way from its meager two-person inception five years ago. Originally running the entire festival on $250 and submission fees, its creators were forced to make do. But after hard work by its presidents, CUNUFF has been updated to a category B campus organization by the Activities Board at Columbia this year, awarding them needed financial support. Now they have funds not only for a great festival, but for an aggressive advertising campaign, after party, and more. “I think we’ve definitely been recognized by the national population as a national festival much longer than Columbia has recognized us. So its really exciting that now we have the resources to match what we’re doing,” John said.
Though the details about the host (last year, Gossip Girl actor Connor Paolo hosted) and the after party have not been announced, there is a buzz of excitement among the members. But the recent announcement of this year’s festival judges is just as impressive. The judges include Oscar-nominated director Oren Jacoby, Seymour Wishman, president of First Run Features, and Marc Wishengrad of Wishengrad Pictures, Inc.
The winners, in categories from best picture to best use of music, walk away with awards of up to $500, as determined by the judges. Even Columbia students get to participate—the “audience choice” award winner gets $100.
Last year over 400 Columbia students attended CUNUFF. With the impressive films in competition this year, students will likely flock to the festival. Many members agree that the quality of the work submitted has only been rising as the years pass, and remain positive about the effects of the festival not only on campus, but for the filmmakers involved. Gu says “Its going to be interesting to see what these people go on to do, because it’s only been five years ... I hope they go on to do awesome things.”
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