• The Emmaus Film Festival gathered young filmmakers to contribute to this year’s monster movie theme
• Seven teams’ films were screened at Emmaus Theater for the “red carpet” event
• For the 20th iteration next year, organizers plan to make outreach to schools and host workshops to build up to the event

EMMAUS, Pa. — Emmaus Arts Commission led a celebration of the Halloween season a bit early, focusing on a “Monster Mash” theme to its 19th annual film festival.

At the event, teams of Lehigh Valley students from elementary to high schools ages saw their submitted films on the big screen at Emmaus Theater.

The festival took place Oct. 22, with the results and a recording of the films from the event posted online later in the week during the lead-up to the holiday.

“I think it’s an honor, definitely, to have this opportunity because I know a lot of kids don’t have it,” said Natalie Iwans, a crew member of “A Story Untold.”

“And just as upcoming middle schoolers, and also upcoming high schoolers, it’s a really great opportunity to learn and also kind of experience what other people [create].”

Each film had to include one of a set list of classic movie monsters, which included wolf person, Frankenstein’s monster, Bride of Frankenstein, Mummy, Creature from the Black Lagoon or the Phantom of the Opera.

Each film also had to include the line, “It’s alive!” and visually reference the Borough of Emmaus in some way.

Related: Emmaus students’ horror film will screen at prestigious New York City film festival

You can watch the films screened at the film festival here:

Giving an opportunity to area’s young filmmakers

The Emmaus Arts Commission is a group of appointed volunteers in the borough who lead art and beautification projects throughout Emmaus, such as the Paint-A-Hydrant program.

Organizers noted a big goal of the festival is to make the creation and presentation of art by young people in the community accessible, and to celebrate it.

Many of the award presenters were local professors and professionals from media companies in the Lehigh Valley — bringing participants closer to those embedded in the production of film products.

Organizers said schools in the region have varying resources, from full programs to limited opportunities, for learning film and visual arts.

Emmaus Arts Commission Interim President Lindsey Kleinberg said that in the past, the festival has been host to very experienced groups as well as those creating such films for the first time.

Kleinberg said many of the groups competing were returning from prior years. She said she hopes to see new faces next year for the 20th iteration.

She said this year’s event went cohesively, and it was great to experience.

“It was extremely enthusiastic,” Kleinberg said. “Everyone was very excited.”

With the event run largely by a new team this year, she said to expand the festival next year, organizers plan to hold student film workshops during the summer and do outreach to major area school districts.

“We’re hoping this really helps to move those students toward other opportunities in the community,” Kleinberg said.

“And also opens their eyes to film and the industrial arts that are available in Lehigh Valley for them to pursue in college, if that’s something that they really like.”

The films were put up for nomination for various awards, including best editing, best use of monster, best use of makeup or costume, best acting, best sound, best writing, best use of visual effects and best use of line.

Category winners for each age level included:

• Best middle school film: “A Story Untold,” directed and written by Maggie Kelly and Annika Schreiner, edited by Annika Schreiner, featuring Natalie Iwans, Maggie Kelly, Grace Stafford, Sophie Hoffman and Hannah Snyder
• Best high school film: “Don’t Ghost Frank,” directed/edited/written by Noah Schreiner, featuring T.J. Seislove, Rose Alsleben, Charles Kenney, Michael Krem, Emily Brown, Kyra Kelly and Cece Christ

You can see the full list of winners at the event here: