By Kelly Wiley

For those of you who aspire to be the next Steven Spielberg or Alfred Hitchcock, or for those of you who just want to see a good short film, then head over to Worsham Theater tonight for the first ever Homegrown Film Festival.

“It is a festival of short films all of which are two to 10 minutes in length, and all of which are made by UK students,” said Andrew Crawford, film coordinator for the late night film series.

There are 15 films, Crawford said, and they all fall into the category of narrative, animation, documentary or experimental.

“Experimental is the most vague category we have,” Crawford said. “It is something that is like a typical narrative structure, but something that gets the point across without telling the story the way we are used to.”

Crawford was a little leery about taking on the film festival since it was the first year for it, but he said they have got some really great feedback from students at UK and other area colleges.

“Since it’s the first year, we haven’t had the chance to reach out beyond the university community into the Lexington community,” Crawford said. “So some of our future goals will be to expand that.”

A panel of professors at UK will judge each of the films. Crawford said there will be prizes for the winners including iPod nanos provided by Apple.

Crawford has viewed all of the films, and he believes  students will enjoy them because they are not your “normal” films.

“A Christmas in Kentucky” gives an abstract look into the question of what Christmas is and how it plays out in the lives of Kentuckians.

There will also be a documentary about dumpster diving. Crawford said the film goes into detail and gives examples of how much the world wastes. There will also be two animated films.

Crawford believes that having the films judged will offer future filmmakers some insightful tips and it will also look good on resumes.

“It is a chance for them to get their work evaluated by people who know what they are doing,” Crawford said.

If you have no desire to make films but enjoy watching them, then this will interest you too.

Crawford said that since the people that made the film will be present, it adds to the viewer’s experience.

“It makes the film going experience more personable cause you talk to directors and actors,” Crawford said.

The Homegrown Film Festival is tonight in the Student Center’s Worsham Theater. Doors open at 7:30 and the festival begins at 8. The event is free to students, and there will also be refreshments for attendees.