Hong International Film Festival

t’s time once again to get out that feather boa, or put on your tux, and sport a little “bling bling” for a star-studded evening on the red carpet. The 2nd Annual Hong International Film Festival returns Wednesday, May 7 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Mount Tahoma Auditorium of the Washington State History Museum in downtown Tacoma. Admission is free. The festival is the brainchild of our former colleague in German, Annakatherin Lange, according to Tamara Williams, chair of the Department of Languages and Literatures. Groups of students from the department's 301/302 level language courses (from spring term) are required to create a 10-minute film in their target language, following very specific guidelines, on the subject of "Ways of Seeing," Williams said. Last year’s festival was such a success that the event is being moved this year to a larger venue at the history museum. Although the films are in four different foreign languages (German, Spanish, French, and Norwegian), they are all subtitled in English, making them entertaining and approachable even for those people who have not yet been cured of their monolingualism. After viewing the films, votes will be tallied and awards will be given to recognize “Best Screenplay,” “Best Cinematography,” “Best Editing,” and “Best Film." Judges include: Patrick Baroch, filmmaker, ITVS outreach coordinator and formerly a national advertising executive for Orion films; Donna Poppe, chair of PLU School of Music; Spencer Ebbinga, chair of art department; Jewely Acosta, filmmaker and PLU alumnus; and Brad Young, PLU alumnus from Tacoma’s very own Stadium Video. There will also be a “People’s Choice Award” selected by the attending audience.