Young filmmakers contest announced By Eva Piccozzi Calling all student filmmakers from Shelter Island, Southold and Riverhead towns. On Monday, Aug. 7, at 1 p.m. Village Cinema Greenport on Front Street will host an organizational meeting for community members interested in participating in the first annual East End Student Film Project. The competition under discussion will be open to high school and college filmmakers looking to show off their talent on the big screen. "We are putting together a home-grown East End film festival to promote young filmmakers making local films," said Paul Henry of Greenport, one of the project coordinators. While this project is still in its infancy, coordinators anticipate a large showing of support at Monday afternoon's planning session, according to Mr. Henry. The idea for a film festival for North Fork students has been in discussion for about year. The short-term goal of the project is to bring young North Fork filmmakers together and provide a venue to screen their submissions. Coordinators anticipate the evolution of a new film competition with prizes of $1,000 in new camera or film-editing equipment. "We were so impressed by the amount and caliber of filmmakers on the North Fork," said Mr. Henry, who mentored high school youths when they filmed interviews with candidates running for Southold Town elections in 2003. These segments were later streamed over the Internet and broadcast on public access television. The North Fork has been a hotbed of activity for filmmakers in the last several years. Mattituck High School has received a great deal of recognition for its film production class, taught by John Roslak. The program, initiated by Mr. Roslak in 1997, inspired students to enter their work in festivals on Long Island; they ended up winning top prizes. Mr. Roslak's students also produce a morning news show that is broadcast to every classroom in the high school. According to Rachel Yellin, assistant manager of the Greenport movie theater, the staff and owner are excited about hosting workshops for young filmmakers throughout the year. However, it has not been decided if the theater will remain open after Labor Day.
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