Bluegrass Community and Technical College filmmaking students meet Michael Shannon at volunteer event

In late September, Bluegrass Community and Technical College filmmaking students were afforded the rare chance to volunteer at the Twelve Lions Film Festival. The festival is a four day long event celebrating independent films, and is held at the historic Kentucky Theatre in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. This year, the festival ran from September 25 through the 28th, and featured over 60 movies made in 15 different countries. Attendants also took part in networking events, panels, and workshops designed to support and educate new filmmakers, and deepen their love for the art of filmmaking. Bluegrass Community and Technical College student volunteers helped out with technical support, guest coordination, and event logistics, which helped them gain valuable hands-on experience in the setting of a professional film festival.

Along with this experience, student volunteers were also able to meet Lexington native, two-time Academy Award nominee, and actor, Michael Shannon, who returned to his hometown to lead a free master class on directing films. Shannon was also at the festival to premiere his first directed film, Eric LaRue. The movie is an adaptation of a 2002 play by Brett Neveu, and stars Alexander Skarsgård, Alison Pill, and Judy Greer. Shannon is most known for his acting roles in popular movies such as Best Picture Academy Award The Shape of Water from 2017, 99 Homes from 2014, and Revolutionary Road from 2008. His return to Lexington to meet with new filmmakers was a positive experience for the BCTC students. 

In an article posted on Bluegrass Community and Technical College’s website, Dr. Greg Feeney, who serves as the president of the school, was quoted about the experience, saying, “We’re proud of Professor Stephanie Fitch and our students for stepping up and representing BCTC at such a prestigious event. Opportunities like this connect classroom learning to real-world experience and help build the next generation of Kentucky filmmakers and support the growth of filmmaking in Kentucky.”

More information about BCTC’s Filmmaking program can be found at the school’s website, or by emailing the program’s director Stephanie Fitch by email at stephanie.fitch@kctcs.edu

More information about all of the programs offered by Bluegrass Community and Technical College can be found at the school’s website.