USDtv Film Festival

This Thursday marks the date of the first annual USDtv Film Festival put on by USDtv, featuring student produced films shown on campus. Five films ranging, from music video to mockumentary, will be presented in this noncompetitive film festival at 7 p.m. in the UC Forums.
"We have one big event each semester. Last semester was the premier night and this time it's the film festival," Jared Ruga, Station Manager and Executive Producer of USDtv, said. "It's really an opportunity for people to check us out, increase awareness, as we have a problem with brand recognition, and celebrate the art."
The students of USDtv have wanted to put on this event for over a year and a half, but it was just a matter of someone stepping up to head the event. The event coordinator for the festival this semester is senior Maddison Heuitt. Heuitt is also a field reporter for the station.
"Jared, our station manager, threw out the idea early this semester and chose me to put it on. We are working on getting more publicity and hopefully funding from AS, so I wanted to help put on this event," Heuitt said. "This is my first semester with USDtv, but I hope in the future it can grow with more movies and more people."
Because the genres are diverse, USDtv didn't think it was reasonable to place a competitive aspect into it. Next year they hope to implement that element as the number of submissions increases. After each film there will be a question and answer portion for filmmakers to elaborate on their project and incorporate the audience.
USDtv can be accessed through on campus cable on channel 75, where one will find a mix of original student-produced shows, like "Cooking with Me, Rita Marie," "Emerald Live" as well as classic movies and recent news.
USDtv can be followed on their website, sandiego.edu/usdtv, and on Facebook  page and will be getting a new YouTube site by the end of the semester.