Geneseo’s annual short film festival, Geneseo Insomnia Film Festival (GIFF), has grown steadily in popularity in its four years of existence.
Led by Joseph Dolce, instructional support coordinator in the college’s Computing and Information Technology Department, the 2015 festival is now history with the winners announced at a screening party April 21 during GREAT Day (Geneseo Recognizing Excellence, Achievement and Talent).
Winning the top prize of a $400 Amazon gift card were team members Giovanni Alfonzetti (captain), an accounting major from Somers, N.Y., Alejandra Romero, a Spanish major from Carmel, N.Y., and Ashleigh Peterson, a communication major from Saugerties, N.Y., for their film “Flickering Light Films.” Winning second place and a $300 Amazon gift card were team members Aaron Weintraub (captain), a physics major from Endwell, N.Y., Kadin Fawcett, a psychology major from Smithtown, N.Y, Julia Cameron, a psychology major from Sayville, N.Y, Nadir Mahmood, a biology major from Staten Island, N.Y., and Matt Rocco, a business administration major from Apalachin, N.Y., for their film “In the Name of [Team Name].” Third place went to team members Bella Rabinovich (captain), a psychology major from the Bronx, N.Y., Timothy Blomquist from Piermont, N.Y., Sean Delles, an English major from Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Joseph O’Connor, an English adolescent education major from Lynbrook, N.Y., for their film “Asskickers United.”
Dolce explained that the GIFF was inspired by Apple’s Insomnia Film Festival, which the company stopped hosting in 2007. The premise of GIFF is that student teams consisting of up to four individuals have 24 hours to shoot a three-minute film. Students are provided a list of 20 different elements (past elements have included items such as, “a puppet,” “a Geneseo sunrise/sunset” and “a ‘BUZZO’ bumper sticker”); each team must use at least three elements in the film.
The GIFF has developed a culture of its own at Geneseo. Students who participate in the festival -- or “Insomniacs” -- have expressed their passion about the program. For these students, the GIFF is not just an avenue of creativity but something that truly impacts their experience here at Geneseo.
“Best all-nighter you’ll ever pull at Geneseo!” said three-time Insomniac, Bella Rabinovich, a senior from the Bronx, New York. This year, CIT is provided access to a green screen while Insomniacs made their films - a new edition to the ever-expanding GIFF. Not only do students build their videography skills during GIFF but they also build valuable life skills. Dolce emphasized that students need to be able to effectively manage time, planning, collaboration and leadership to be successful. He also stressed that “being successful” doesn’t necessarily mean winning, but “having fun while making something the teams can be proud of.”
Another element of the GIFF that makes the festival enticing to many is that participants get to share the experience with friends. Dolce noted that he wants the experience to be fun for all involved, even when they aren’t shooting. Dolce played movies that students watched while they worked and provided board games to play when they needed a break. The festival does what it can to provide students with all the necessary resources to not only produce a quality video but fully enjoy the process.
GIFF is enjoyed by all, even those with little or no videography experience. Dolce noted a winning team requires much more than videography skills; they need writers and creative minds to truly succeed. As long as teams have at least one member with a decent eye for video, they are set for success.
“Many of our teams are made up of English and science students,” said Dolce. “This event certainly isn’t just for communication students.”
The festival focuses on much more than excellent videography techniques; it celebrates the collaboration of students with different skills and talents. Students are proud and excited to see what their teams can create in a short time frame. The GIFF allows them to realize their full potential and explore the depths of their creativity.
“24 hours of creativity, fun, and no sleep,” said two-time Insomniac, Matt Rocco, a senior from Apalachin, N.Y.
Story written by Jia Sha, a communication student at SUNY Geneseo. The article was submitted as part of a College Communications Workshop instructed by Michael Saffran.