I entered the bustling Robert Emmet Theatre as elevator jazz music played; a direct contradiction to the theme for this year’s 48-hour film festival, “chaos.” Lucy Hasler, production officer of DU Film Society, expressed to me after the festival that “the film festival is chaotic in itself. That’s kind of why we chose this theme.”
The 16 films screened conveyed remarkable interpretations of chaos despite being so different from each other. Ranging from a comedy capturing a world where vaping is outlawed (“Cloud Chasers”) or to a thriller with someone who can kill with his looks (“If Looks Could Kill”), all the films had the crowd gasping and laughing together.
I would also like to give the organizers their well deserved flowers. Jetta O’Halloran Smyth, another committee member of DU Film, hosted a short film workshop to help people and “make this festival an open opportunity for everybody”. Moreover, a mixer was also arranged, which no doubt helped many participants to find their collaborators (and make new friends along the way), with over 50 people attending it. The crew and cast behind Best Picture film, “If Looks Could Kill”, who also gets an automatic entry into DUFF (an invaluable opportunity), can affirm the film society’s aspirations: “We were complete strangers on Tuesday, you know, 48 hours later we had a complete film.”
The festival was indeed a space for creators with all levels of experience. The crew and cast of “The Less I Know the Better” put it the best: Even with editing complications and no prior experience, “they still went for it”, says Tukasz, Jakub, and Zuzanna. They won Best Cinematography and were nominated in three categories, including best editing.
The 48-hour film festival reminds everyone that on the occasion that you try something new and challenge yourself (and have fun with it!), there is no doubt that you will be applauded.
