#1 Movie Makers

By: Aliya Byers

For the first time Northwest Middle School ESL students have been allowed to participate in the Modern Language Film Festival.

The festival took place on April 10th at the University of Central Missouri. Ms. Kelly is the one who discovered the film festival.  “I found out about the Modern Language Film Festival at the University of Central Missouri last year when I went to an awards banquet down there.” said Ms. Kelly, ESL teacher at Northwest. “And so, I asked them since they did so much with the ESL students in Kansas City, Missouri, if they would be willing to let us join in on the Modern Language Film Festival in a category for ESL and they liked the idea.”  Ms. Kelly said.

 

It took a lot of effort to convince the professors to make this happen.  “I checked the website for the Modern Language Film Festival, and it’s in April every year, and I didn’t see a category for ESL. So, I emailed the professor in charge of the film festival and she said, ‘Yes, I love the idea, let me just make sure with the other professors that this is okay,’ and it was.” Ms. Kelly said.

After pushing for this to finally happen, Ms. Kelly got the job done. “Whoever was talking to me I guess said, ‘Yes, absolutely we want them to be a part of the film festival.” Ms. Kelly exclaimed.

 

Ms. Kelly nominated ‘Nightmare’ created by 8^th graders Gray Hem and Htay Reh. Mr. Self another ESL teacher at Northwest, nominated the film ‘Cyber Bullying and Self Harm’ created by 7th graders Kimberli Picazzo and Marina Viramontes. Ms. Rivera, also an ESL teacher at Northwest, nominated the film ‘We Project’ which featured 7^th grader Jeimi Pinida and 6^th grader Maureen Holquin.  Come to find out Northwest has broken the ground for ESL students everywhere. “She said we are going to pilot this category with the Northwest students.” said Ms. Kelly in reference to the professor in charge.

At the awards ceremony, the video ‘Cyber Bullying and Self Harm’ took 1st place between the three videos we submitted. The judges also gave us a packet of their thoughts about all of our videos. We left satisfied with the award we received and the adventure we embarked upon at the University.