Area film enthusiasts are busy planning, shooting and editing entries for the fourth annual Ice Block Film Festival. The 2012 event will take place at the Skyview Cineplex on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25.  Entries can be dropped of at lampshade studio (located at 250 Kendall Lane in Etna) or at Skyview Lanes in Afton. All entries must be turned in by Saturday,  Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.  The 2012 film categories include, documentaries, fiction, animation and music video. The grand prize is $100. Cash prizes of $50 will be awarded to top finishers in each category.  Entry forms, rules and a schedule of events is located online at iceblockfilmfestival.com.
“All film festival events will be held at Skyview Family Fun Center and Cineplex,” said Katie Roberts of the Star Valley Arts Council.

Admission to film festival events is free.

According to information provided by Roberts, the two day event will feature workshops as well as film screenings.

“Feb. 24 we will meet, greet  and bowl with our guest Seth Hippen, an animator from Blue Sky from 6 – 8 p.m.,” said Roberts. “Feb. 25 workshops start 10 a.m.”

The first workshop will be under the direction of  Lincoln Pead.

“I’ve been involved in audio/visual production for well over 17 years,” said Pead. “All current endeavors center around my own project studio (www.plundermind.com) and usually involve music recording and/or animation. In the past I have worked for KBYU FM and the BYU School of Music and was tasked as a student producer and engineer with projects for FM and television broadcast and live audio. Similarly, I have been involved with the Notable Youth Foundation as a teacher, audio engineer and graphic artist.”

The 11 a.m. workshop will be taught by Seth Hippen. Hippen is a professional animator. His work has been included in a number of different films, including Surf’s Up and Alice in Wonderland. He is currently working on Ice Age 4.

During his workshop, Hippen will cover animation as well as his career in the animation industry.

Roberts will conduct a “make a movie in an hour” workshop that will begin at noon.

Roberts is a film studies graduate of the University. She is currently working on a masters in Instructional Technology from the University of Wyoming.

“I have run my own production company since 2000,” she said. “I enjoy capturing life and editing it into sense or a direction.”
Film screenings are set to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.

“The Final Screening and Award Ceremony will be from 4-6 p.m. [Feb. 25],” said Roberts. “After party festivities included cosmic bowling starting at 8 p.m.”
For more information on the 2012 Ice Block Film Festival, contact Roberts at 880-LAMP or visit iceblockfilmfestival.com.