Little Muddy Film Festival winners announced

While some students used the Little Muddy Film Festival to present serious topics such as the Iraq war, others used it to submit comical films, such as "The Lonesome Tale of Walter Heest," directed by Brian Brems, a sophomore in cinema and photography, which depicted a man's relationship with a Barbie doll that was ruined after coming home to catch her in bed with G.I. Joe.

"There was more stuff than I thought there would be," said Meghan Currey, a sophomore from Hoffman Estates studying cinema. "There's a lot of really talented people in that room."

The movie screen's light flickered across the faces of the attentive audience, which was primarily composed of those showing videos or supportive friends, Saturday and Sunday nights in the pitch-dark backroom of Longbranch Coffeehouse. The 3 1/2-hour program Saturday showed 30 narrative films, and the two-hour show on Sunday presented seven documentaries and 10 experimental films.

"It is a vast improvement on last year's six entries," said Joe Nudelman, a senior from Glenview studying cinema and director of the Little Muddy Film Festival. "This is by far the most participated and attended Muddy in a long time."

Robyn Reeves, a sophomore from Chicago studying cinema, was encouraged to enter the festival by a friend. She entered two films, "Boo Hoo" and "Guide to Being a Supervillain."

"I was nervous," Reeves said. "I was like, 'Ah, I don't know what they're going to think.' I was happy when it was over. I could breath again."

She said submitting work and attending movie festivals gives her motivation to keep working on future films.

"I was impressed," Reeves said. "I didn't really expect a lot out of it. It totally blew my mind because everyone else had actually really good films."

The featured films ranged from a bizarre film following a man around as he walked though corridors and ducked in and out of doorways to an amusing movie documenting a man's quest for a better high via mushrooms.

"There was a couple that I liked, some funny, some interesting," said Josh Milus, a senior from Peoria studying cinema and photography. "There were some that I just can't say a whole lot of good about, but that probably goes into taste."

Milus had two films shown in the festival, "Judge Not" and "Cherish." He said he thought the festival could have gone better if there had been better seating, some director introductions and an intermission.

"It seemed kind of shotgun style," Milus said. "I'm glad they're doing it, though."

Many of those in attendance went to support their friends. Aaron Milus, a sophomore from Peoria studying cinema and photography, thought it was fun to be able to see his friend's work.

"It's fun seeing a friend's personality come out in their film," said Aaron Milus, who had his films "Geak" and "Self-Help" in the festival.

His films attempt to make people laugh through either poking fun at himself or small things in life that strike him as cute or amusing.

"Since like day one, I've looked forward to being in movies, writing movies, producing movies," Aaron Milus said. "I can't imagine doing anything else. It keeps my blood pumping, I get goose bumps, you know, all the important things."

Sean Loftus, a sophomore from Momente studying cinema and photography, placed first in the narrative category for his film, "Wednesday."

"It's nice," said Loftus. "I didn't expect to win. I didn't think that would happen."

Loftus first started to make his movie about a past relationship. However, after hearing friends mocking the typical "girlfriend movie" that every "self-righteous" filmmaker does, he realized he needed to question why he was making the film and what he really wanted to expose.

"It's something I really like to do and really gives me a charge," Loftus said.

The winner in the documentary category was Robert Booker, a graduate student studying mass communication and media arts for his film "Morris 'Flash' Eaton: A Man of Southern Illinois."

Other documentaries entered in the competition covered topics such as the Starved Rock Murders, where three women were murdered more than 40 years ago, and the huge cross at the crossroad of Interstates 57 and 70 in Effingham.

Benilda Beretta, a graduate student in mass communications, won in the experimental film category for her movie, "In My Opinion."

The winners in each category received a $50 prize.

"It's not so much as winning, as it is a venue, a place to show your stuff," Currey said. "Here it is more open minded, and people are there to support you."