Kids' film festival debuts Saturday Kids' film festival debuts Saturday (April 06, 2005)

Some 50 films have been entered by kids

Windy Hill Kids' Film Festival, showcasing more than 50 short films made by kids, makes its debut Saturday, April 9, at the Middle School Commons on the Menlo School campus in Atherton.

The festival gets a jumpstart from 11 a.m. to noon when Gardner Loulan of Portola Valley, now VJ (video jockey) for MTV-U (a music television channel shown at college campuses) and a filmmaker, leads a workshop: "A Fraction of Frames: A little bit about filmmaking and video production."

"Gardner is really cool and will be inspiring to kids," said Shelby Rachleff of Portola Valley, 13, who founded the Windy Hill Kids' Film Festival.

While a student at Fordham University, Gardner made an irreverent movie in 2001 about the MTV Video Music awards, and landed a job as the first VJ for MTV-U.

Films, created by students in grades 4 through 12, will be shown, beginning at 12:15 p.m. There's no admission charge for filmmakers who submitted entries, and their families.

For others, admission is $10 for the workshop and films, and $5 for the film portion. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, said festival organizers. Refreshments will be available for sale after the workshop.

Apple Computer is providing video software as prizes in each of the following program categories: drama, comedy, documentary, instructional, animation and music video.

Menlo School is at 50 Valparaiso Ave. in Atherton. For more information, email windyhillfilmfest@yahoo.com or call JoAnn Loulan at 851-5778.

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