In an interview with the Justice on Wednesday, the SunDeis Film Festival's Special Guests Chair Eve Neiger '09 and Communications Chair Hanna Rosenthal-Fuller '09 discussed this year's events and special guest, as well as changes that have been made to the Festival.In an effort to provide everyone with an opportunity to see the cinematic works of their peers, the festival will have three separate sessions for the screenings of student films on March 18, 19 and 21. And in order to include those who did not contribute a film to the main event the Festival will once again hold the "48 Hour Film Contest." For those who are unfamiliar with this undertaking, the 48 Hour Film Contest is an event open only to Brandeis students that requires participants to make a film within the time period mentioned in the title. However, those who participate in the event will face the challenge of-in addition to sleep deprivation-including certain features dictated by SunDeis officials (for instance, all films must use a spoon as a prop).

According to Neiger, some of past SunDeis' best and most interesting efforts have been the product of 48 Hour Film Contests. However, the event also serves a practical purpose: "[The 48 Hour Film Contest] really inspired people to take advantage of film resources, many of which they were unaware of before," Neiger said. In addition, those films submitted to the contest will have a separate screening, which will take place on Friday evening.

This year's SunDeis will also include several events meant to introduce students to possible careers in the film industry. On March 18, SunDeis will host the Film Careers Workshop, an event cosponsored by the Hiatt Career Center. And on March 21, the "Alumni & Friends: Clips and Conversation" meeting will take place. At this happening, a panel made up of people who have a strong connection to Brandeis and the film industry will answer questions from students and participate in one-on-one discussion sessions with attendees following the question-and-answer session. In the eyes of Rosenthal-Fuller, this event is especially important as it is "really inspiring for students to meet people who have made it in the film industry."

Also occurring on March 21 will be the question-and-answer session with this year's special guest, producer David Pritchard, one of the men behind the award-winning film Captain Abu Raed. The film, in addition to being the first feature film produced in Jordan in more than 50 years, was also the first ever to be submitted by Jordan to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

And, in keeping with the Festival's theme of "encouraging and rewarding student work," SunDeis will conclude with a Red Carpet Awards Ceremony that will take place on March 21. At this event, awards will be handed out to students according to the conclusions reached by a judging panel composed of Brandeis faculty and staff. As its name suggests, the ceremony will emulate award ceremonies usually found in the realm of Hollywood stars.

However, in reality, the Red Carpet Awards Ceremony is not the only event meant to honor the work of SunDeis participants; recognition of student filmmakers is the purpose of-and will be found throughout-every SunDeis event.