Varied collection of student films to be shown at CU this weekend

"Six Ring Circus" is a feature-length movie by the Advanced Filmmaking class and will be shown May 11 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. in the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts Film Forum.

"Six Ring Circus," a feature-length movie by the advanced class students, is a freewheeling story of loneliness, lust, love and murder. Jointly written and directed by students Ron Eigen, Derrick Gomez, Amin Nasr, Vichian Sutipornprachum, Phil Van and Deena Varshavkaya, this film is funded by the 2002 Fellowship for Advanced Filmmaking donated by Melville Shavelson '37. The Advanced Filmmaking class is taught by visiting film lecturer Jameel Khaja, an award-winning independent filmmaker. "Six Ring Circus" will be shown Saturday, May 11, at 7 and 9:30 p.m. in the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts Film Forum.

On Sunday, May 12, at 7:15 p.m. in Willard Straight Theatre, the independent student film projects will be screened. The films include a black comedy by director Justin Lerner, starring professional actors and students from the theater department; a documentary comparing Israel and South Africa by Shira Golding; and a documentary by Renee Finkelstein on Buddhist spirituality, among others.

Those interested in film classes should visit the Cornell Department of Theatre, Film and Dance web site and course listing at http://www.arts.cornell.edu/theatrearts