On Monday, April 16, 2012 at 7 p.m., the red carpet, paparazzi and popcorn returned to Maranatha Hall when Northwestern hosted the annual Five16 Film Festival, an annual free event showcasing the films of electronic media communication students.

What originally started as a small film festival has grown into a community-wide event drawing more than 900 attendees.

Named for Matthew 5:16, the festival showcased the work of NWC student filmmakers in the categories of comedy, drama, music video, and animation. Student films were judged by Northwestern faculty, alumni and film professionals from around the country.

“This is a great opportunity for students to produce creative and engaging videos and receive feedback from professionals in the industry," said Ann Sorenson, MFA, associate professor of communication and festival director. "As the festival grows, so does the level of quality and professionalism in the films that the students are producing.”

The top films in each category are shown at the festival. Each film is required to be less than eight minutes in length and will be judged by a panel of experts and professionals in the film, television and theatre industry.

The Winners of the 2012 Five16 Film Festival Awards:

• Best Drama/ Audience Choice: Cherish by David DeLeon 
• Best Comedy: Janitized by Luke Stapleton 
• Best Animation: Waffles by Kimberly Mills 
• Best Documentary: Poet by Anna Carey 
  

Visit the Five16 Film Festival website and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter!

View past winning entries on the festival’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/five16filmfestival.