The Texas Independent Film Network Spring Series Concludes with "St. Nick"

May 17, 2011

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The Texas Independent Film Network Film Series, hosted by Baylor University's Film and Digital Media division, will continue with a free showing of "St. Nick" Thursday, May 19, in Castellaw Communications Center, Room 101.
The story of "St. Nick" follows the adventures of two children in the harsh Texas winter as they struggle to survive after running away from home for an unknown reason.
The feature film was directed, written and edited by native Texan, David Lowery, and was shot throughout Texas.
"St. Nick" debuted at the 2009 South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, as an official selection and won a Grand Jury Prize at its appearance at AFI Dallas. The Grand Jury Prize is awarded by the Texas Jury and given to promote Texas filmmaking.
Films are selected for the Texas Independent Film Network (TIFN) circuit based on their impact and whether they would benefit from a statewide tour.
The Texas Independent Film Network is an organization dedicated to showing independent Texas films across the state in large cities such as Dallas, Houston and Austin, as well as college campuses like Baylor and Texas A&M University.
Founded by Louis Black, co-founder of South by Southwest and the Austin Chronicle, and Ryan Long, film programs manager of the Austin Film Society and director of Screen Door film, TIFN tries to bring together the best Texas films from festivals and Texas indie films together to audiences across the state.
"The Film & Digital Media program decided to co-sponsor the TIFN screenings here at Baylor as a way of broadening the film options in Waco," said Dr. Jim Kendrick, associate professor of communication studies at Baylor.
Waco has two multiplex theaters, which mostly show larger Hollywood productions. By bringing the Texas Independent Film Network Film Series to Waco, the film and digital media program hoped to broaden cinematic diversity for the community, Kendrick said.
While other screening locations charge fees to view the films, Baylor has opted to keep the showings free.
"The idea was always that these free screenings were open to the entire community," Kendrick said. "We saw them as a way to bring together those at Baylor and in the wider Waco community who love movies and provide them with something unique and different from the standard Hollywood offerings."
Thursday's screening of "St. Nick" will begin at 7 p.m. and last until approximately 10 p.m. This will be the final presentation in the Texas Independent Film Network Spring Film Series at Baylor.
Castellaw Communications Center is at 219 Baylor Ave.
For more information, visit www.baylor.edu/comm_studies/
by Emilly Martinez, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805