Videos earn teens honors in film festival

In a scene reminiscent of Cannes or Sundance, North Idaho teens received honors March 5 as part of Teen Film Festival 2011. Well - the popcorn was fresh, there were Skittles, and everybody had a good time.

The second annual Teen Film Festival - organized by the Community Library Network in partnership with the Coeur d'Alene Public Library that hosted the awards ceremony - received ten entries in two categories: Public Service Announcements, 30-90 seconds, and Short Films, 3 to 5 minutes. Participants were 13-18 years old and could work individually or in groups.

Videos were based on the theme, "You Are Here," also the theme of the Young Adults Cooperative Summer Reading Program as well as the theme for the PSA contest currently under way through the Idaho Commission for Libraries. Local PSAs are also eligible to compete at the state level.

Prize money, $100 for first, $75 for second, and $50 for third in each category were provided by the Friends of the Library at Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, and Post Falls.

The winners were:

Short Film: First, Daniel Troxell, David Brands, Amy Ellithorpe, Joshua Brands, and Gerry Koep, "Je Te Vois;" Second, Joshua Brands, David Brands, Allie Brands, and Catherine Brands, "You Are Here;" Third, Shane Tyler, "Clay Man."

Troxell's win also earn the Post Falls Library the right to exhibit the Teen Film Festival Traveling Trophy for the next year.

Public Service Announcements: First, Stephen Byrum, "You Are Here;" Second, Danny Schramm, Kelsey Kraack, Morgan Jett, Rylee Mindt, "Be Yourself;" Third, Arielle Johnson, Colby Acuff, and Jackson Miller, "The World is at Your Feet."

The videos can be accessed at the Teen Film Festival news blog: http://libraryteenfilmfestival.blogspot.com/