CEPA Short Film ‘SEM;COLON’ to Screen at New York Film Festival
“SEM;COLON has come a long way in such a short amount of time, from our silent film in November of 2021, to widely releasing our short film and having an informative Youtube talk show among many other projects within the school and the community!” said Cailyn Hill, who stars in the film. “Through that entire time, our goal and purpose has stayed consistent, raising awareness and ending the stigma.”
A short film produced by the Center for Education and Performing Arts in Pell City (CEPA) will screen this month in Times Square as part of the world’s largest student film festival.
“SEM:COLON” is a short film produced by CEPA’s digital content program Spotlight Studio and directed by now Pell City High School junior Anna Claire Hathorn in 2022. It kicked off many conversations in the community about teen depression, anxiety, and suicide.
The production included more than 40 students and adults from St. Clair County. For many, it was their first introduction into the world of filmmaking. It was accepted into and screened at Birmingham’s Sidewalk International Film Festival in 2022.
The Cast & Crew of SEM;COLON during the film premier at CEPA in 2022
““My original goal in creating the film was to shine a light on the current state of student mental health, and to make others aware of the internal issues that me and my friends regularly face,” Anna Claire said. “With CEPA’s support and encouragement, we were able to make something that not only impacted our community but will now impact people from across the globe.””
Anna Claire submitted the film this summer to The All-American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF), which is billed as the premier destination for talented high school filmmakers and media arts enthusiasts from around the world. AAHSFF’s mission is to provide immersive education with a profound impact, connecting the filmmakers of the future with the rewards, respect, and recognition they deserve.
“I’m so proud of and grateful to the people who helped me bring this vision to life, and I’m excited that it will now reach so many more people than I ever imagined,” Anna Claire said.
“SEM;COLON” screened at AMC Empire 25 Theater in Times Square, New York City, on October 21, 2023.
CEPA’s Spotlight Studio program encouraged Anna Claire to convert her idea for a silent film into an episode for The Black Box by Spotlight Studio Podcast.
“The first time I saw it, I was appreciative of the skill it took these students to create the film,” said Jeff Thompson, executive director at the Center for Education and Performing Arts. “But more than that, I was stunned by the bravery they’d exhibited in facing the subject directly.”
“I had a gut feeling that I wanted to do something that affected the real world,” Anna Claire said. “Something that affects my age group is depression and suicide.”
Ways to Support SEM;COLON
Listen to the Podcast
Watch SEM;COLON Sound-Out
Sidewalk
Sidewalk
In August of 2022, a few of the SEM;COLON team got together and attended Birmingham’s annual film festival “Sidewalk” where their film was shown for the first time ever.
If you or a loved one is suffering with mental health, reach out to those around you. You are never alone.