By: Aly West

Once the sun sets on May 30, members within the Bellbrook community will gather at the Bellbrook stadium to view the film competition submissions. Residents will get to see interpretations of “The Heart of Bellbrook.”

The Bellbrook Marketing and Communications club presented the Bellbrook film competition this past winter and is planning to present their film submissions at the film festival. They hope to bring everyone together and show the appreciation of the Bellbrook community through this event. 

Communications Coordinator, Henry Conte, oversees the club and the film festival. Conte hopes the films are able to build and create a connection within the Bellbrook residents at the festival. 

“I would love to see those seats in the stadium packed and people on the field with blankets watching what their friends, loved ones, and people they’ve never met see what the Heart of Bellbrook means to them,” Conte said. “We will have already watched the films, so I’m not going to be watching the films. I’m going to be watching the people there and get to see their reactions to the films.”

The film festival will include about 10 submissions with a variety of movie genres and views on the contest theme, The Heart of Bellbrook. Prior to the screening, there will also be Lions Club games, raffle prizes, and food opportunities.

Senior Alex Koverman plans to submit a film with other seniors Tyler Duffy, Jeremy Reiglesburger, Talon Wannarka, and Anthony Boyd. 

“Our film is going to be a horror/comedy film,” Koverman said. “It will tie into the history and heart of Bellbrook.”

“It’s about our small little town,” Duffy said. “It’s going to show what mischief we can get up to at night.”

Eiley Wannarka, Bellbrook marketing and communications club participant, also serves as head of creative social for the festival. 

“We are currently working on getting sponsorships,” Wannarka said. “Whether that’s going door to door, anything can really help. We’re really depending on them.”

The marketing and communications club plans to view all film submissions beforehand. Awards will be decided by judges Valinda Buedel-Herrman, Amanda Newsome, and Jeff Jenkins and club participants: Lucy Volesky, Eiley Wannarka, Olive Varvel, Alexis LeMieux, Venus Aggarwal, Aly West, Sean Markland, and Gabe Woods. The awards will then be distributed the night of the film festival.