Student directors and producers participating in the festival will use Internet2 technologies to submit and screen their films for the festival. In doing so, the OSTN-Internet2 Film Festival demonstrates the true viability of Internet technology to deliver high quality digital entertainment.

Each night of the OSTN-Internet2 Film Festival will focus on different areas of the OSTN Channel’s programming: short films, documentaries and student television shows. The screenings will spotlight select student work from institutions such as USC, Brown University, Duke University, the Asian Young Filmmakers Forum and the International Film School of Paris as well as work from Cleveland-area schools such as Oberlin College, John Carroll University and the University of Akron. The documentary screening will also feature portions of OSTN’s first ever public service initiative, HBO’s “Addiction.”

“This Festival is a celebration of the original, inspiring work of student filmmakers,” said Prashant Chopra, Chief Executive Officer of OSTN. “We are pleased to collaborate with Internet2 to create this platform for student filmmakers to showcase their talent and creativity.”

Following each night’s screening at 9pm EDT, Internet2’s high capacity, high performance national network will provide an interactive videoconference linking student directors press and audience attending the film festival for a live Q&A session.

“The OSTN-Internet2 Film Festival creates an innovative venue for student filmmakers to share their work and experiences in a rich and interactive environment,” said Ann Doyle, program manager for Internet2’s Arts and Humanities Initiative. “High quality videoconferencing and video streaming technologies continue to break traditional geographic boundaries providing students access and exposure to new opportunities.”

Because of the support of local and national sponsors, each of the film festival screenings is a free event. Through outreach to its member institutions, OSTN brings recognition to Cleveland’s growing arts and technology design industry to a nationwide audience.

OSTN Short Film Showcase – Thursday, July 19
This showcase features two hours worth of the year’s best short films from around the world, including two premiers from the 2007 Ivy Film Festival, The Guided Storm from Jeonbuk Independent Film Association and Cataracts by Nina Sarnelle from Oberlin College. Other Ivy Film Festival competitors featured are Attack of the Cephalopods by Eric Bramley and Dave Logan from Duke University and Crispy Bacon by Olivier Farmachi from the International Film School of Paris.

OSTN Documentary Film Showcase – Friday, July 20
Friday’s showcase presents two hours of the OSTN Channel’s best documentaries. Works include Trauma by Robert Duns from John Carroll University, Voices of the Past, Faces of the Present by Genna Duberstein from Ohio State University, and a show from OSTN’s first ever public service initiative, HBO’s Addiction.

OSTN Student Television Showcase – Saturday July 21
On Saturday evening, OSTN features the very best of its student television programming and airs favorite episodes of Brown University’s Elected, USC’s Birnkrant 616, Ball State University’s Something Else TV (SETV), and the University of Akron’s Akron After Hours.