Kids! It's almost Halloween, but this year your spooky shenanigans can last longer than October 31. The Cheyenne Youth Short Film Festival presents the 2018 Fear Film Fest. Anyone under 18 from anywhere in Wyoming is invited to create their own suspense/thriller film.
Emily Wood, a film festival board member, said one thing that makes this contest special is the parameters that the young filmmakers must follow. They have just two weeks to make films under seven minutes and they must include several secret elements. The exact details will be released this Friday at 5 p.m. at the Laramie County Public Library in Cheyenne and via Facebook.
"I can just mention the general idea of what our secret elements are," said Wood. "We'll have a secret image that we'll reveal on Friday and a quote as well to include in the films."
Wood made her own film back in high school and said it was a lot of fun.
"You have two weeks to make a story, a whole background to that. And find a group of people to make that idea come to life," said Wood. "It's really rewarding to see that on the big screen and have a lot of other people come and watch it and support your film."
Wood said participants don't need experience or special equipment. Past filmmakers have used smartphones to shoot their films. She said local libraries and schools often help by providing access to cameras and computers.
Contestants are eligible for prizes and a chance to see their film on the big screen at the Atlas Theatre in Cheyenne on November 17.
