'Boyz N The Hood,' 'Dogma' Directors To Speak At UK Film Festival

'BOYZ N THE HOOD,' 'DOGMA' DIRECTORS
TO SPEAK AT UK FILM FESTIVAL

Tickets for Singleton and Smith's appearances go on sale March 1 through Ticketmaster outlets. For ticket information, call (859) 257-TICS.Filmmakers wanting to enter the festival must do so by March 7. Applications can be found at www.splitscreenfilmfest.com.

Feb. 26, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- Acclaimed film director John Singleton and enigmatic film director Kevin Smith will appear at the University of Kentucky SplitScreen Film Festival from April 12 to 16. The two will share their thoughts and experiences about the art of filmmaking and directing at the festival, which will showcase the talent of local filmmakers. Singleton will speak at 8 p.m. April 12 in UK's Memorial Hall. Smith will speak at 7 p.m. April 15 in Memorial Coliseum.

Singleton's directorial debut, "Boyz N the Hood," a tough, intelligent, plain-speaking look at friends in gang-ridden South Central Los Angeles, earned him Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Director. He is the first African American and the youngest filmmaker ever to receive an Oscar nomination in the best director category. Singleton also directed "Higher Learning," "Poetic Justice" and "Shaft." His acting and producing credits are numerous. He is known for casting famous hip-hop musicians such as Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur and Busta Rhymes in his works.

Smith's first major motion picture, "Clerks," scored him the Young Cinema Award at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, the Filmmaker's Trophy at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and for Best First Screenplay in 1995. Smith went on to direct "Mallrats," "Chasing Amy," "Dogma" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back." In addition to directing, Smith has numerous writing, acting and producing credits.

Tickets for Singleton and Smith's appearances go on sale March 1 through Ticketmaster outlets. For ticket information, call (859) 257-TICS.

Filmmakers wanting to enter the festival must do so by March 7. Applications can be found at www.splitscreenfilmfest.com.

To enter, send the $25 non-refundable entry fee, along with an NTSC VHS cassette with title, running time, contact name and phone number. All rules and regulations for applying can be found in the application. Categories include shorts (under 30 minutes), features, documentaries, animations and trailers.

All material should be addressed to SplitScreen Film Festival, Attention: Allison Morris, Director of Cinema, Student Activities Board, 203 Student Center, UK, Lexington, KY 40506-0030.

Additional information about the SplitScreen Film Festival can be found at www.splitscreenfilmfest.com or by calling (859) 257-8867. The event is co-sponsored by the UK Student Activities Board and All Media Studios of Lexington.