KINGSTON, R.I. -- April 8, 2003 -- The University of Rhode Island’s fifth annual College of Arts and Sciences Film and Video Festival: Visualizations, will feature student films on April 23rd and 24th. Funding for Visualizations was made possible by a grant from independent film producer and 1979 URI graduate Fred Joyal and by the College. Don Kunz, professor of English, Stephen Wood, communications department chair and Tom Zorabedian, senior development officer for the College co-coordinated the festival.

The public is invited to the screenings and award ceremonies. There is no charge.

This year the festival will award a variety of student original films in the categories of animation, commercial/public service announcements, documentaries/news segments, experimental and open. There will also be awards for writing film criticisms and short original screenplays.

A public screening of honorable mention, third and second place films will be held on Wednesday, April 23 from 7–9 p.m.at the University Club on Upper College Road

The public screening of first place films and selection of the coveted best-of-the-festival film will be showcased on Thursday, April 24, at 7 p.m. in Chafee, Room 271. In addition, URI graduate and 1999 Best-of-the–Festival winner Keith Brown will show his 17-minute independent film, "Tough All Over."

First place winners in each category will receive $400, second place winners receive $150 and third place winners receive $100. The best-of-the-festival award winner will be given $500. In addition and upon the judges’ discretion, honorable mention awards will be granted without monetary prizes.

The competition is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled at URI and to those who graduated from URI no earlier than May 2002. A film may be entered by an individual or as collaborative work in only one category.