Teen launches kids' film festival Teen launches kids' film festival (March 09, 2005)

By Marjorie Mader

Almanac Staff Writer

Shelby Rachleff, a Portola Valley teenager, loves films, and doesn't let big ideas faze her.

She's the founder and organizer of the first Windy Hill Kids' Film Festival, which premiers Saturday, April 9, at the Middle School Commons on the Menlo School campus in Atherton.

The festival will showcase films produced by students in grades 4 through 12. All films submitted will be shown.

Shelby, 13, a seventh-grader at Menlo School, decided to organize the festival after attending the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado last September with her parents, Debbie and Andy Rachleff, and friends, JoAnn Loulan and Ronny Crawford of Portola Valley.

"I fell in love with the Telluride Festival and wanted to make something like it happen for kids, but in a non-threatening environment," she said.

"Many of my friends like to play around with Apple's iMovie and digital cameras," said Shelby. "I thought if they could share their movies with other kids, it might inspire them. It also would be tons of fun."

Shelby's interest in films stemmed from being a voracious reader. Even as a little kid, she would think of ways to translate her favorite books into screenplays.

Shelby made her first movie about her family ski trip in Colorado, editing it on Apple's iMovie software. She made a few short movies at school and signed up for an ID Tech Camp at Stanford last summer.

"We had a blast," she said.

The kids film festival is Selby's idea, but family and friends have supported her, said Ms. Loulan, a member of the festival's advisory board.

Shelby designed the entry form and information sheet and helped arrange the venue -- Menlo's Middle School Commons with its stair-step bench seating and big screen.

Ms. Loulan made initial phone contacts to local schools and Shelby took over the follow-up.

"We've already received a number of entries in a broad range of categories," said Shelby's mother.

Most entries will be under 10 minutes. She gave some examples: A documentary, "Homeboy Industries," about taking gang members off the streets in Los Angeles and placing them in jobs; and "Titlelist," a golf movie about parental pressures on a young golfer.

Most of the movies were made using IMovie, Apple's digital video editing software that allows even beginners to start making movies, said Debbie Rachleff.

Songs can be imported from iTune and incorporated into the movie. Once the movie is completed, it's burnt to a DVD.

"Oscars" won't be handed out.

"There is no focus on 'winning.' It's about providing a supportive environment for local kids to test the waters of a larger audience," said Ms. Loulan.
About the Kids' Film Festival

Windy Hill Kids' Film Festival on Saturday, April 9, will showcase independent films, developed and produced by kids in grades 4 through 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Middle School Commons on the Menlo School campus, 50 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton.

Speaker is Gardner Loulan, who grew up in Portola Valley and now, at 23, is the VJ (video jockey) for "mtvU," a music and news channel shown on college campuses across the country. He will give the opening workshop at 11 a.m. and talk about how making an irreverent movie about the MTV awards landed him a job as the first VJ for mtvU.

Filmakers and their families have free admission. There's a $5 admission fee for others, and an additional $10 fee for the workshop. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, said festival organizers.

Student films will be accepted through March 21 in the following categories: drama, comedy, documentary, instructional, animation and music video. Entries, not to exceed 20 minutes, must be received in DVD format and be PG 13 or below.

For entry forms and more information, e-mail windyhillfilmfest@yahoo.com or call JoAnn Loulan at 851-5778.

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