The KINO short film Festival, held every spring, is an opportunity for advanced film production students to showcase their short films and receive feedback from an audience. The festival is also open to submissions from other University of Idaho students and alumni as well as regional filmmakers in the Pacific Northwest.
- Student films from the University of Idaho’s School of Film and Television are given priority for screening.
- The festival features a diverse range of films, including dramas, comedies, and documentaries.
- Some films may include mature themes, language, or content.
The Short Film Showcase will be held on Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m. at the Kenworthy performing arts Centre. The best submissions will be screened and awards for top films will be presented at the end of the showcase. The event is open to the public and tickets are free for UI students and $8 for general admission. On Saturday, April 26, the festival will premiere a documentary titled “The Snail Hunters.” The film follows UI biologists as they explore the complex world of snails and their fascinating behavior. The documentary will be shown at 4 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure a seat. In addition to the documentary, the festival will also present the KINO Trailblazer Award to writer and director Megan Griffith. Griffith is a UI alumna who graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in visual communications and has had a successful career in film and television. She has directed shows on HBO, Hulu, Netflix, and many more streaming networks, including season two of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” on Amazon.
“We are thrilled to recognize Megan Griffith’s achievements as a filmmaker and to celebrate her contributions to the film industry. Her dedication to her craft and her commitment to storytelling have inspired countless filmmakers, and we are honored to present her with the KINO Trailblazer Award.”
– Kenworthy Performing arts centre Director
Griffith has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including a feature film “The Off Hours,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. She is also a member of the director’s branch of The Academy, the organization that runs the Oscars. In an interview with “Cup of Joe” on April 16, Griffith shared her experiences as a student at UI and as a professional filmmaker. When asked about how her education at UI shaped and inspired her career, Griffith said, “I get to dive in and explore that through character, and I feel like that all started when I was back at UI.” She specifically admired the impact that a now-retired professor in the English department had on her. “I took classes from Anna Banks, and she is the person I always think of when I think of my time at the University of Idaho because she was such a supportive teacher to so many of us in the visual communications program.”
On her recent visit to Moscow in 2018, Griffith shared her enthusiasm for returning to the city and showing her husband her favorite spots and reminiscing on old memories. She is thrilled to return and celebrate the festival with the local community. The festival is open to submissions from regional filmmakers in the Pacific Northwest, and attendees can expect a diverse range of films that showcase the region’s unique storytelling style.
| Event | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Film Showcase | Friday, April 25 | 7 p.m. | Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre |
| Documentary Screening | Saturday, April 26 | 4 p.m. | Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre |
| KINO Trailblazer Award Ceremony | Saturday, April 26 | 7:30 p.m. | Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre |
Tickets are free for UI students and $8 for general admission on Friday, and free for everyone on Saturday. Join future filmmakers at the Kenworthy to celebrate their films and congratulate Griffith on earning the first-ever Trailblazer Award.
Highlights of the Festival
• The Short Film Showcase will feature a diverse range of films showcasing the best of UI student filmmaking. • The documentary “The Snail Hunters” will provide an insightful look into the world of snails and their fascinating behavior. • The KINO Trailblazer Award will be presented to writer and director Megan Griffith for her outstanding contributions to the film industry.
Meet Megan Griffith
Megan Griffith is a UI alumna who graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in visual communications. She has had a successful career in film and television, directing shows on HBO, Hulu, Netflix, and many more streaming networks, including season two of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” on Amazon. Griffith is a member of the director’s branch of The Academy, the organization that runs the Oscars. She has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including a feature film “The Off Hours,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. “I took classes from Anna Banks, and she is the person I always think of when I think of my time at the University of Idaho because she was such a supportive teacher to so many of us in the visual communications program.”
Griffith is thrilled to return to Moscow and celebrate the festival with the local community. She is also excited to share her husband’s favorite spots and reminisce on old memories.
Get Involved
• The festival is open to submissions from regional filmmakers in the Pacific Northwest. • Attendees can expect a diverse range of films that showcase the region’s unique storytelling style. • Tickets are free for UI students and $8 for general admission on Friday, and free for everyone on Saturday.
