Morgan County Film Festival

by Megan Scott, Community Educator of the Morgan County Partnership

The 2nd Annual Morgan County Film Festival was a great success! On June 4, the community gathered to watch the 11 films submitted. This year the event was open to both youth and adults and awards went to best public service announcement, best short film, best short documentary, judges choice and audience choice. The event was hosted by the WV Zine, which is an after school program that runs a youth based webpage about Morgan County and its staff. The master of ceremony was Jacob Montague, sophomore at Berkeley Springs High School and the awards were presented by Jaclyn Bissett, senior at Berkeley Springs High School and Tara Kontra, junior. The panel of judges included Kirsten Trump, Shamus Cleveland, Tara Kontra, Heather Lorigan and Neil Heard.

The winner for the best public service announcement and for judges choice went to “How to Save a Life: Suicide Prevention”, created by Liz Kerns, Rachel Lawhorne, Logan Smailes and Trenten Derryberry. The winner for best short film and for audience choice was “The Game” created by Walker Williams and the winner for the best short documentary was “Cells” created by Dakota Peak. The winner for the best film in the adult division went to “Harvest of War” created by Jane Ping and Rupert Chappelle.

The film festival was sponsored by Morgan County Partnership, WVU Extension Services, Morgan County Schools and WV Prevention Resource Center. To get involved in planning for next year’s film festival, contact the Morgan County Partnership at 304-258-7807.