CITY HALL
Teen scene
Youth who love to watch movies are encouraged to create their own and submit them for judging as part of the fourth annual Santa Monica Teen Film Festival, which will be held June 20 and 21.
The festival is now accepting submissions from filmmakers ages 12-18, and will accept any film in any genre from 30 seconds to 30 minutes in length.
Submissions are due by Friday, May 8 at 5 p.m., city officials said.
Locals may have to compete against out-of-state and foreign entries. All youth are encouraged to submit. Kids do not need to be present at the festival to win awards and prizes. Submission is free.
To download the entry form and to see the official rules and guidelines visit www.santamonicateenfilmfestival.com or pick up the forms at the following locations: Virginia Avenue Park Teen Center, 2200 Virginia Ave., and the Santa Monica Main Library Youth Reference Desk, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.
The festival is sponsored by City Hall, including the Cultural Affairs Division, the Public Library Teen Program, the Virginia Avenue Park Teen Center and City TV.
In addition to having films seen by a panel of industry professionals and a live audience, all entries will compete for awards and prizes, including a live audience choice award presented after each screening session.
The purpose of the festival is to showcase and provide an outlet for the creative talents of teen filmmakers, as well as encourage youth to use the art of filmmaking as a form of creative expression and commentary on the world in which they live.
For more information about the festival or about film submissions, please call Cultural Affairs Supervisor Justin Yoffe at (310) 458-8634 or e-mail him at justin.yoffe@smgov.net. DAILY PRESS
SAMOHI
Football fundraising
The Southern California Australian Football League is tackling the task of easing Australian wildfire victims’ troubles head on. The league will be hosting a fundraiser at SAMOHI for victims of the recent wildfires in Victoria, Australia. The event? An Australian football match.
In addition to collecting donations for the victims, members of the league are hosting a kid’s clinic to teach children the basic skills of the sport, said a league press release. There will also be a raffle of prizes to thank those who make donations.
So far, authorities estimate the wildfires have killed over 200 people and have left thousands homeless. Entire families have been swallowed up by the raging fires, and with the end still days away, the death and homeless count will in all likelihood increase dramatically.
“Hell and all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria,” Australian Prime Minister Paul Rudd said. “Many good people now lie dead. Many others lay injured.”
All monetary donations will be sent to the Australian Red Cross, and the league will also be taking donations of used clothing for fire victims. The event will take place at Santa Monica High School on Sunday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. — 2 p.m., with the match scheduled for noon. The fundraiser is free and open to the public.
The football league is an amateur sports organization with the goal of spreading the Australian rules football game. Several players from the league have played for the U.S. in the International Cup held in Australia every three years. DP
