UICA produces Open Projector Night Showcase

UICA produces Open Projector Night Showcase

The 195-seat movie theater at UICA screens independent, foreign and documentary films. Courtesy UICA

A series of locally produced short films will be screened downtown this Friday night.

Film night

The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, or UICA, will host its Open Projector Night Showcase, which screens films created by the public and curated by UICA staff.

The event was first held in 2012 and has filled UICA’s 195-seat theater. This year, the event will also screen past public vote winners and staff favorites.

Local filmmaker Joel Potrykus will host the event.

The Open Projector Night Showcase will feature a range of productions from animated shorts to experimental films.

The audience will be asked to vote for their favorite film. The winner is then shown before a regular film at the UICA Theater and entered into a drawing for private screenings at the venue, valued at more than $600.

The event will also feature live music and a cash bar.

The industry

“The benefit of Open Projector Night is twofold: filmmakers get a chance to show their work, and local film appreciators get a chance to see what West Michigan has to offer,” said Anjalika Lobo, the event’s organizer.

“As the series continues, drawing more filmmakers and attendees, Open Projector Night could encourage more local film production and provide an opportunity for students and professionals to network. The more active and connected West Michigan’s film community becomes, the more students may stay and find work right here, building a stronger creative workforce and a healthier economy.”

Tickets

Tickets to the event are $8 for non-members and $4 for members of UICA and the West Michigan Film Video Alliance.