First England and now Johnstown- Student documentary honored with second film festival

May 14, 2010NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- One of Westminster's newest graduates continues to receive praise and recognition for her senior project completed last fall.

Dana Kerkentzes, who received a B.A. in Broadcast Communications this May, produced a documentary that was included in the No Limits International Student Film Festival April 17-18 in Sheffield, U.K.

In June, her short-format film will take center stage at the Johnstown Film Festival. This is the second such honor for Kerkentzes and her project. The First Commonwealth Johnstown Film Festival, which is in its fifth year, will be held June 16-19, 2010.

Kerkentzes is a daughter of Jerry and Darlene Williams of Elizabeth and a graduate of East Allegheny High School.

Kerkentzes' documentary, Another Journey to OZ, followed the Petite Players, a youth theater troupe from Elizabeth, as they rehearsed for the musical OZ! It captured the life lessons learned and the creation of a family atmosphere that evolved.

The non-fiction program, Kerkentzes' capstone research project, was developed under the supervision of Bradley Weaver, Westminster instructor of broadcast communications and Kerkentzes' faculty adviser.

"I was disappointed that I couldn't attend the festival, since I only received notice a week before and couldn't make travel arrangements," Kerkentzes said. "I did call the Petite Players to share the good news. We will have our own screening this summer in the theater where they perform. In addition to the honor of having my work recognized in the U.K., being with all those fantastic kids when they see themselves on a big screen will be another rewarding experience."

"Shooting Another Journey to OZ was one of the best experiences of my life," Kerkentzes added. "The Petites accepted me into their family with no questions asked. I am so proud of what those 40+ kids have done and love them with all my heart."

"Dana's work was an incredible labor of love that allowed her to really shine as a storyteller, but as a bit of an ethnographer and archivist as well," Weaver said. "She captured a little snapshot of that community's energy and history that shows in a way that you cannot quantify with traditional research. It shows in the faces and emotions of her participants. I'm quite pleased to see her hard work and all the time she put into the documentary recognized."

Kerkentzes received an Undergraduate Research Grant from Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to assist with fees for submission of the film.

Another Journey to OZ from WCN 24/7 on Vimeo.

This story is a courtesy of the Westminster College Communications office.