Finalists' work to be shown this weekend By Rebecca Packard If you're ready for films more refreshing than the usual studio blockbuster, head to Greenport this Saturday night for new short films by local students. The East End Student Film Project is presenting its second annual film festival, featuring new films by local college-age and younger students that last no longer than 15 minutes each. "We're absolutely delighted with the overwhelming response and excited about sharing this incredible program with the community," said Paul Henry, a founding committee member of the project. The festival was opened to all the East End, including summer residents, this year and the number of entries -- 40 -- is double what it was last year, when the project was limited to the North Fork. There are still quite a few finalists from this area, though, particularly from Mattituck High School, where John Roslak has taught a film production class since 1997. Mattituck High School finalists include Allie Surozenski and Katie Corman, Moggy Vinciguerra and Quinne Burt, Mike Ferris and Brian Romanelli and Emily Ianno. "It's just so impressive what's coming out of that school," said Sara Hallock, another EESFP committee member. Other local finalists include James Newman of Aquebogue, now a student at Five Towns College; Rob Ludacer of Greenport, who attends Savannah College of Art and Design; Leonardo De Luzio, a part-time resident of Cutchogue; Kelly Goeller of Cutchogue, who attends NYU; and Nora Brisotti of Cutchogue, who studies at NYU Tisch. This year, the finalists' films will be shown twice, runners-up will have their films featured earlier in the day, and a time for refreshments from local restaurants and bakeries such as Aldo's, Bruce's Cheese Emporium, D'Latte and Salamander's will follow the awards ceremony. At the beginning of the first finalists' screening, there will be a screening of "Moggy and Quinny's Documentary," the first-place high school entry from 2006, and two short animation films by local filmmaker Bran Dougherty Johnson. Students are competing in two divisions, one for college students and one for younger entrants. First-place winners in each category will get $500 gift certificates to B & amp;H Photo; second-place winners will get $250 gift certificates; and third-place winners will get $150 gift certificates. The judges for the contest are Michael Edelson, who recently worked on a documentary about art forger Han van Meegeren; John Williams Jr., who has 20 years' experience as a television and film producer; Tom Leopold, who was a judge last year and has written for shows such as "Seinfeld" and "Cheers"; Thomas DeWolfe, who has produced mainstream television and independent films; Herb Scannell, the CEO of Next New Networks, who has also worked for Viacom and Showtime; and Joe Lauro, who was musical director for the Academy Award-winning documentary "The Ten-Year Launch." The aim of the East End Student Film Project is to eventually start a film mentoring program in all of Southold Town. A pilot after-school program, which Ms. Hallock says she hopes will be supported with the help of festival judges, is scheduled for spring of 2008. Ms. Hallock said they've been able to start this program due to the generosity of their sponsors, which also seem to have increased in number from last year. The film festival is sponsored by the Greenport Movie Theatre, Hudson City Savings Bank, Cablevision, Times/Review Newspapers and Tax Reduction Services. Admission to the event is free.
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