BY BRANDI ENGEMAN
Education Program Director
LAAC/FLAC

After three weeks of summer production, the students from the 2nd Annual Los Alamos Youth Film Intensive program screened four short films for invited guests at Fuller Lodge last week. (Watch for photos in the Los Alamos Reporter).

The Los Alamos Youth Film Intensive is a cooperative endeavor between the Los Alamos Teen Center/Family YMCA, PAC-8 Media,  the Los Alamos Arts Council, and the Los Alamos Family Council/Youth Activity Centers. Students in this three week program were each given the opportunity to write a short film after which four were selected for production. Students were responsible for writing, directing, acting in, and editing  these films with teachers Jean Gindreau and David Daniel guiding the process. 

After the success of last year’s program, this year’s expanded to three weeks with a generous donation from Alex and Christina Simons, which was matched by their employer, Microsoft,   grants from the Delle Foundation, which helped purchase new equipment, and financial support from the Los Alamos Family Council. The organizers also want to thank Los Alamos County and Pajarito Brewpub for their support and helping us make the evening special for our guests.

Those in attendance included friends, family, and community leadership. The four films (listed below) were met with enthusiasm and will be shown for the general public in a rolling format on August 13th inside Fuller Lodge with showings on the half-hour. This event is free to the public but donations are welcome.

The featured plays are:

Margo
Written and Directed by Blue Engeman

Shuffling Through Time
Written and Directed by J. Bartholomew 

John Astronaut in Space
Written and Directed by Cyril Jaworski

If Only You Knew
Written and Directed by Sophie Bathrick Price

The organizers of the program are already planning for 2023 with hopes to expand the program further and possibly add a second session.  Donations for the program can be made to PAC-8 Media, the Los Alamos Teen Center, or the Los Alamos Arts Council and will help the program expand and remain affordable for families.