The WIFI Film Festival returns April 12 to the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library with short films from local, national and international filmmakers.
“WIFI Film Festival is a film festival that Washburn mass media students get to plan, and basically people come and submit films from all over the world, which is really cool,” said Ashley Heavner, junior mass media major.
The event is a celebration of storytelling through film, offering attendees the chance to watch various different films, learn from industry professionals and build meaningful connections within the Topeka community.
“We have planned on which movie will be shown. We actually give out awards like overall best film, best sound, best production and stuff like that. We have dates, times and locations for each short film that’s being played,” Heavner said.
All the nominated films that are to be shown in the festival are listed in the schedule with proper date and time along with the information of directors and producers of the movies. WIFI is dedicated to promoting and celebrating film production, stories from the Midwest, Washburn University students, the Topeka community and in the state of Kansas.
“This is my first year that I get to experience the film festival as a faculty. I heard about it in my job interview and it was one of the things that really impressed me, especially as a film and video teacher,” said Dean Krueger, lecturer of mass media.
Krueger believes the variety and caliber of this year’s submissions stood out, particularly in the animation category. Despite the accessibility of platforms like YouTube, gaining visibility in the animation field remains a challenge, making festivals like this a valuable opportunity for exposure.
“Places like film festivals really help give something like an indie animation some more credibility than just posting it on the internet,” Krueger said.
This event is free and open to the public, making it a great opportunity for film enthusiasts, aspiring creatives and community members to come together. By highlighting work from both local and international filmmakers, the festival fosters a sense of connection and shared creativity.
“People should definitely come. We have watched some of the short films just within our class and it’s crazy the amount of talent that people have, even at a young age. Giving them support is really important and I think that is really worth it to just come,” Heavner said.
From thought-provoking documentaries to innovative animations, the festival showcases a wide range of storytelling styles and it’s a chance to experience different cultures, perspectives and voices through the art of film.
Edited by Jayme Thompson and Jeremy Ford.
