This past Sunday evening, the fifth annual Campus MovieFest took place at 7: 30pm in Witherspoon cinema.

Campus Movie Fest is the world’s largest student film festival. This event offers students the chance to make their own movies and win prizes.

The festival started on February 16 this year, and students had one week to complete a five-minute video using resources provided by Campus MovieFest .

“This year, it’s bigger and better. There’s more prizes, more technology and a increase in cash prizes,” Nishant Gogna , promotions manager of Campus MovieFest , said.

Each team of students was provided with a loaner Apple laptop and an HD video camera.  The teams were also permitted to use any type of software to edit their movies. Technical support was also available at D.H . Hill’s Digital Media Lab throughout “shoot week.”

“Campus MovieFest is the most unique opportunity for students. They have the chance to make their own movie using great resources for free,” Gogna said.

For a week, technical help was provided in the library’s Digital Media Lab from morning to night, helping teams produce their films.

Submissions are judged by selected students and faculty members. The top movies are showcased at a Campus MovieFest Finale at the Campus Cinema in the Witherspoon Student Center.

Featured films gain recognition among their peers, as well as prizes such as iPads , cash, pitch meetings in Hollywood, and the chance to enter the regional and national competitions.

“It’s always a great experience when I attend CampusFest . My friends participated this year as well as last year,” Azariah Bell, junior in mathematics education, said

The event is sponsored by the Union Activities Board, University Housing, the IRC, DELTA, WolfTV and the NCSU Libraries—as well as by Panasonic and AT&T. 

“I would definitely recommend any student to attend the festival. The stories vary, but I always walk away with something,” Bell said.

Students who participate receive exposure through the school finale, Campusmoviefest.com , and much more.

Participates also have the opportunity to receive coveted CMF Silver and Golden Tripod Awards, and up to $20,000 in cash prizes in the social justice category.

“I can’t wait to be a part of the festival next year; it seems like a lot of fun and a great opportunity,” Bryan Seacurte , freshman in First Year College said.

To check out this year’s finalist or watch past award-winning films from other universities, visit Campusmoviefest.com . All interested students are encouraged to participate when the festival returns next year.