Photo courtesy of Raleigh Film & Arts Festival
By Jason Aparicio and Sully Caruso
Attention Pacers, need something to do this weekend? The 14th edition of the Raleigh Film and Arts Festival returns to William Peace University on Oct. 2-4, and students can attend this premier event for free.
The event showcases a variety of films, including short, mid-length, student films, documentaries, animation and more. It also features a poetry slam, panel discussions with filmmakers, and visual arts. Learn more and register for free at Raleighfilmandartfestival.org. Students should choose the “Peace Community” ticket and can use the code RFAF@PEACE26 to get a VIP pass for the whole weekend.
This the second consecutive year that the festival, called RFAF for short, has been held at Peace. RFAF ranked in the top 100 film festivals globally by directors, and is expected to draw approximately 1,200 people over the three days.
Roger Christman, the head of the communication department at Peace, encourages students to attend the event and to enjoy themselves while getting to know the people and directors attending the festival.
“We envision our students coming and seeing the film, and then going to the director’s lounge and talking to the director about it and learning from them,” Christman said.
Christman hopes students will connect with others who are also interested in film, not only to learn about the art, but the business as well.
“My hope is that they bring along a friend and meet new friends, people who are interested in the arts, people who are interested in film, people who are interested in understanding the business,” Christman said.
Students can learn a lot by talking to directors and other people who work in the film industry, he said. Instead of just learning about film in a classroom, students can actually meet people who make films and hear about their experiences.
Christman also connected the festival to immersive learning at Peace. Students can learn by actually being involved in the event instead of just sitting in a classroom and taking notes. They can watch films, talk with directors, and go to workshops.
The festival gives students the chance to see different types of movies and meet the people who made them. Students can also ask questions and learn more about what goes into making a movie.
The VIP pass normally costs $129, but Peace students can get it for free, allowing them to see the movies as well as attend workshops, visit the director’s lounge, and take part in the provided food and lunch.
This gives students a chance to meet directors and talk to them about their movies. Christman hopes students will actually take advantage of this instead of just watching a movie and leaving.
If you like movies, art, poetry, or want something fun to do, the Raleigh Film and Arts Festival could be a good event to check out. Since it is happening right on campus and is free for Peace students, it’s easy to attend.