Stamps Student Trailers at 61st Ann Arbor Film Festival
Five students from the Stamps School of Art & Design have been selected to have their animated festival trailers screened during the upcoming 61st Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF) March 21 – 29, 2023.
Under the guidance of Professor Heidi Kumao, students used a multi-draft process to create visually arresting, brand-compliant, thirty-second ads to reflect the spirit of the film festival. Students were required to include the festival and sponsors’ logos in their projects but were given complete artistic freedom to design their 30 second spot.
“The challenge for the students was in creating a short piece that reflected the experimental nature of the festival and/or focused on the art of the moving image,” said Kumao. “The pieces that were selected have elements that are hand-made and idiosyncratic. Some use found or collaged materials that emphasize the grittier aspect of independent cinema. All of them are playful and engaging interpretations of the festival’s histories and emphasis on experimental imagery. It will be fantastic for them to see their work on the big screen.”
Festival staff selected the winners whose trailers will play on rotation as the introduction to each program/screening. In addition, they will each receive a complimentary festival pass for their creative work. The students who will have their work showcased are:
Nicole DelVecchio
Nuala Kennedy
Meghan McCarthy
Summer Pengelly
Kayelani Weatherly
Stamps is proud of its long partnership with the Ann Arbor Film Festival, the longest running avant-garde and experimental film festival in North America. Filmmakers will visit classes during the festival week, and Stamps is supporting the Animation Program on Friday, March 24. Two Stamps students, Coco DelVecchio and Madison Grosvenor, have worked as interns at the festival since Fall 2022.