It didn’t reach the international heights of France’s Cannes Film Festival or carry the name of Hollywood star Robert Redford and his Sundance Film Festival. What the First Annual Viking Film Festival did have was short films that showed off kids’ creativity and talent followed by its own awards ceremony.

Matthew McLindon, a film teacher at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, had 15 short films lined up for viewing, as well as several trailers produced in cooperation with students at James Hart School in Homewood. McLindon offered the guidance and supervision, but each film was written, filmed and produced by students.

When guests entered the South Building cafeteria, they walked across a red carpet, chose a snack (no popcorn available) and settled in around the lunchroom tables. Overhead, five screens for viewing gave everyone a good seat. 

Before he queued up the films, McLindon thanked the dozens of friends and family members who came out for the show.

“This is a huge turnout. It’s awesome,” he said. “This is genuinely a night to celebrate our film program here at H-F. I’ve seen great things here.” The former TV producer said H-F offers students high-quality equipment that gives students training that can be used on any job.

Every film got enthusiastic applause. Guests got to see films that ran about three minutes.

Students in Digital Film 1 and Film 2 classes got to pick their topics – everything from “The Stalker” with someone who creeps around, to “Operation Breakup” offering a glimpse of how a couple decides to call it quits, to “Doll House,” a dark comedy of extremes of how society pushes teen girls to change themselves, and “Homework Heist” portraying a student trying to convince a teacher to give him an answer key. 

Some films were haunting like “The Thread” that had viewers following a lost thread that takes them to mysterious places in search of a murderer. Others, like “Printing Destruction” brought out the laughs as the film portrayed the man versus machine frustration with an uncooperative printer.

Students used special effects, music and sound to bring their films to life.

At the end of the show, guests were invited to vote for their favorites using a QR code. Before each winner was announced, the crowd created a hands-on-table drum roll.

“The Thread” by Anthony Reynoso and Aidan Klauk won two honors: Best in Show in the Feature Film category and an Audience Choice Award. “It Wasn’t Supposed to Happen Like This” by Andrew Schott, Eric Brooks and Jakeira Stewart won the Audience Choice Award in the Film 1 category. “The Ghost in Hall B” by Amari Day, Baleigh Caston, River Carraway won Best in Show in Film Study intro class category.   “The Art of Sigma” by Justice Bibbs, Aiden Larkin and Greg Austin also won Best in Show from Film.

McLindon said he plans on entering student work in a variety of film festivals next year. 

He is also trying to grow the program by connecting with the H-F feeder schools. This spring he took a group of students to James Hart School in Homewood. Hart has a broadcast studio where students produce daily announcements and share information.

When the H-F students arrived with their camera equipment and lights, a group of Hart students got the chance to write, act in and film several trailers of 30-60 seconds.

Josh Cox, an eighth grader, had a great time doing the projects, but his schedule at H-F for his freshman year is already full, so moving to Film 1 will have to wait for his sophomore year.

Callum Fetherling, a seventh grader, was enthusiastic about the experience working with H-F students.

“I’m with Panther TV and they said we were going to do something, so go into the library and we made a movie,” Callum explained. “I’ve always been a fan of making movies and stuff, so this is definitely something I’m going to do” at H-F. 

Hart students who participated in the H-F/Hart project were Noah Armwood-Henderson, Arie Ayers, Telesphore Azogan, Brian Blach, Jennah Cannon, Joshua Cox, Jaxson DeBoer, Callum Fetherling, Eleanor Greep, Brielle Haines, Gavin Jursa, Neriah McGee, Marc Michel, Julian Paredes, Roy Smith, Nathan Sobczak, Bennett Suchor, Jayla Cakes Taylor, Jan Van Etten, Olivia Zandi. The teacher overseeing Panther TV is Cherylyn Cieplucha.

H-F student films are available at vikingtelevision.com

Viking Film Festival entries: Featured Films

• “The Thread” by Anthony Reynoso and Aidan Klauk
• “Doll House” by Samantha Chalmers, Sommer Owens, Kofi Afrifah
• “Printing Destruction” by Max Cutshell, Armani Knight, Sedrick Johnson
• “A Senior’s Guide” by Xiiyaire Pulliam, Aria Hairston, Caris Pryor.

Viking Film Festival: Film Study 1 Shorts

• “Ghost in Hall B” by Amari Day, Baleight Caston, River Carraway
• “It Wasn’t Supposed to Happen Like This” by Andrew Schott, Elliot Mack, Jakeria Stewart
• “The Stalker” by Joseph Olison, Eric Brooks, Leon Wilson
• “Between The Shelves” by Will Dandridge, Magic Little
• “Take 100” by Kayden Davis
• “Operation Breakup” by Jayda Parker, Jouney Butler, Nailah Muhamad
• “Rap Trial: The Art of Sigma” by Justice Bibb, Aiden Larkin, Greg Austin
• “Oops, I’m Invisible” by London Parker, Kadarius Cooper, Ewan Duckett
• “The Note” by Matthew Tyron, Matthis Tyrone, Sidney Wilson
• “Homework Heist” by Miles Barber, Tristan Harris, Hayden Briggs
• “Until” by Nia Allen, Charlie Wachtel, Sumayyah Ryan
• “The True Ideal” by Ewan Duckett