USC's First Look Fest opens at DGA in April

Student shorts screened, award winners showcased

By NICK MADIGAN

The biannual First Look Film Festival, presented by USC's School of Cinema-Television, will hold its spring program April 5-8 at the Directors Guild of America.

Fest showcases short films made by USC students, some of whose works have been shown at film festivals in Telluride, Cannes, Seattle and Deauville.

In addition, several of this year's filmmakers are already award winners, including Jay Lowi, who won the audience short award at this year's Slamdance Film Festival for "12 Stops on the Road to Nowhere"; Adam Abraham, who won the audience feature award at the same venue for "Man of the Century"; Chesley Chen, whose film "Paper Birds" received a DGA award; and Rogelio Gonzales, who earned an honorable mention from the American Society of Cinematographers.

Alumni scheduled to host the April festival include "Titanic" producer Jon Landau and Jersey Films prexy Stacey Sher.

"Over the years, the First Look Festival has become known as the place where new trends in filmmaking begin," said Elizabeth Daley, dean of the School of Cinema-Television.

Each of the 28 screenings will be followed by a reception with the filmmakers. Screenings will be held at the DGA Theater, 7920 Sunset Blvd., April 5-8, starting at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. The entire slate will also screen at USC's Norris Theater on April 10-11, beginning at 1 p.m. each day.

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