ENMU Hosting Science Fiction Lectureship/Film Festival

Date: 3/16/2011
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 575.562.2253

PORTALES – Eastern New Mexico University in Portales will host its annual High Plains Film Festival in conjunction with the 35th Jack Williamson Lectureship series beginning Thursday, March 31 through Saturday, April 2 on the Portales campus.

Submissions of short science fiction films and readings from A Universe in 1/10 of an Hour are open to students until Friday, March 25. Reservations for the lectureship luncheon for $8 are also open until Friday, March 25.

Laurel Petty, coordinator of the High Plains Film Festival, says the joint efforts of herself and the coordinator of the Jack Williamson Lectureship, Patrice Caldwell, made sense for this year’s  theme. “With the Williamson and science fiction legacy of ENMU and New Mexico, it seemed fitting to tie it in with an ENMU-sponsored film event,” says Petty.

Petty and Caldwell have been putting together the collaborative effort for over a year. Their efforts have brought in two guests: Michael Cassutt and Melinda Snodgrass.

Cassutt has been a story editor and producer on 13 primetime television series, including “Twilight Zone,” the Showtime revival of “Outer Limits” and was a freelance writer for episodes of “Stargate SG-1” and “Farscape.”

Snodgrass has published many books, including the “Wild Card Series” of 19 books about super-heroes in the world. She has also written multiple episodes for science fiction series, an adaptation of “Star Blazers” for Disney and six pilot episodes.

More complete biographies are located at www.enmu.edu/filmfest.

Petty says the main purpose of the festival and lectureship is “for people to have fun, expand their appreciation for science fiction film and TV, and enjoy all of this for free!”

For more information and lectureship luncheon reservations, call 575-562-2315 or e-mail Patrice.caldwell@enmu.edu. For information about the film festival, call 575-526- 2229 or e-mail Laurel.Petty@enmu.edu

Schedule of Events:

Jack Williamson Lectureship

Six Minutes into the Future:  Science Fiction in Film and TV

Writers’ Reading

Thursday, March 31, 6 p.m., JWLA 112

Luncheon

Friday, April 1, 11:45 a.m., CUB Ballroom

Reservations for lunch by March 25; 575-562-2315 (pay at door)

Panels

Friday, April 1, 3:30 – 6 p.m., Golden Library Special Collections

High Plains Film Festival

Universe in 1/10 of an Hour

Scriptwriting Workshop

Friday, April 1, 10 – 11:30 a.m., CUB Pecos Room

Call for reservations by March 31; 575-562-2711

Screenings of award winners

Saturday, April 2, 1-3 p.m., Buchanan Hall in Music Building

Experiments in Cinema with Bryan Konefsky

Saturday, April 2, 7-9 p.m., Buchanan Hall in Music Building