West Liberty University (WLU) concluded its annual 48 Hour Film Festival with winners and participants being recognized Sunday, September 15 at Waterfront Hall in downtown Wheeling.
Open to WLU students regardless of major and all area high schools, ten teams from West Liberty and two high school teams representing Weir High and River participated in the fast-paced script-to-screen competition, which provided cash prizes while showcasing the work of aspiring young filmmakers to the public.
Teams kicked off the event Friday, September 13 by drawing a line of dialogue, character profile, genre, and prop. From there, they had just 48 hours to complete a 6-10 minute film.
2024 winners included:
High School:
1st Place – Ava (Noah) Tolzda and Grant Smith, River High School, The Silence of the Forest
2nd Place – Emma Underwood, Weir High School, Love Inherited
Best use of Prop – River High School
Best use of Character – Weir High School
College:
1st Place – Christopher Figaretti, Stay Dead
2nd Place – Ella Smith, The Unknown
Best use of Prop – Chris Figaretti, Stay Dead
Best use of Dialogue – Olivia Bernola, Tag. You’re It
Best use of Character – Nokk Ripley, Honeybee
Best use of Genre – Tie – Andrew Gadd, Simian Slaughter and Ella Smith, The Unknown
Event organizer and WLU Assistant Professor of Digital Media Design Jared Thompson explains the challenges of creating a film in such a short period of time.
“This is a very unique event for our community. It challenges students by pushing their creative and technical skills to create a compelling story with required elements in just 48 hours,” says Thompson. “The submissions did not disappoint. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone who participated and for sharing their work in front of a large crowd. It’s clear that art like film really brings a community together,” he adds.
The event was made possible by a Community Partnership Grant through Wheeling Heritage along with the generous support of John Bonassi (’69) and Pete Holloway.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students’ aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.
