FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: Craig Elrod ‘s MUSTANG ISLAND battles it out with the High School filmmakers for supremacy of DIFF’s 4th red carpet!

Craig Elrod ‘s MUSTANG ISLAND (including the second appearance by Macon Blair and Lee Eddy – who both also appear in the children’s film, INTO THE WHO KNOWS!) shared the Dallas International Film Festival red carpet at the Dallas City Performance Hall on Sunday, April 2nd with a virtual army of local high school filmmakers

from Allen, Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts, Dubiski Career High School, Garland High School, Grand Prairie, Greenhill School, New Tech High School at Coppell, North Hills Prep, Parish Episcopal School, Richardson, Ursuline Academy of Dallas, and Wylie East High School.

That’s right – the high school filmmakers share the same red carpet with the adults. If your film is accepted and is screening at DIFF, then you deserve to have your red carpet moment alongside everyone else.

Moviemaking AND democracy, how about that?


A LOT of girls taking the helm for high school projects bodes well for the future of female filmmaking, and it seemed as if a student named Kshitij Kapil had a hand in almost every project. Apparently, that kid never sets the camera down.

Other films included HOW FAR SHE WENT, LILY, SIZE DOES MATTER, TROPHY, and WHAT LIES UPSTREAM. Another very busy red carpet at DIFF!

Burak Hezar, Director of DAYS GONE BY (Allen High School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Burak Hezar, Director of DAYS GONE BY (Allen High School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Bayley Bryant (Screenwriter), James Hubbard (Director), andNaomi Mills (Screenwriter/Assistant Director) of EIGHT O'CLOCK (Allen High School) (Photo by John R. Strange:Selig Polyscope Company)
Bayley Bryant (Screenwriter), James Hubbard (Director), andNaomi Mills (Screenwriter/Assistant Director) of EIGHT O’CLOCK (Allen High School) (Photo by John R. Strange:Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Emily Goodman (Producer), Denise Diaz (Director), Madison Plummer (Editor), Harley Hendrick (Screenwriter) of PERCEPTION (Allen High School) (PERCEPTION) (Photo by John R. Strange:Selig Polyscope Company)
Emily Goodman (Producer), Denise Diaz (Director), Madison Plummer (Editor), Harley Hendrick (Screenwriter) of PERCEPTION (Allen High School) (PERCEPTION) (Photo by John R. Strange:Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Figuring out who will stand where on the carpet (THE SURPRISE) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
The filmmakers from THE SURPRISE try to figure out who will stand where on the carpet (THE SURPRISE) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Blake Eisenberg (Director), Rachel Bloom (Director), and Claire Williams (Screenwriter) of THE SURPRISE (Parish Episcopal School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Blake Eisenberg (Director), Rachel Bloom (Director), and Claire Williams (Screenwriter) of THE SURPRISE (Parish Episcopal School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Some talented grown ups showing the kids how you do the red carpet right: Chloe Lenihan (Screenwriter), and Ugla Hauksdottir (Director) of HOW FAR SHE WENT (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Some talented grown ups showing the kids how you do the red carpet right: Chloe Lenihan (Screenwriter), and Ugla Hauksdottir (Director) of HOW FAR SHE WENT (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

HOW FAR SHE WENT's Chloe Lenihan (Screenwriter) and Ugla Hauksdottir (Director) (Photo by Steve Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company)
HOW FAR SHE WENT’s Chloe Lenihan (Screenwriter) and Ugla Hauksdottir (Director) (Photo by Steve Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Elizabeth McIlyar, who directed, produced, wrote and starred in CAGED. She probably did the craft services too. (Parish Episcopal School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Elizabeth McIlyar, who directed, produced, wrote and starred in CAGED. She probably did the craft services too. (Parish Episcopal School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Nick Homsher, he director of MENTAL, who also rocked a bow tie on the carpet. (Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Nick Homsher, he director of MENTAL, who also rocked a bow tie on the carpet. (Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Ugla Hauksdottir answers a question about her film (HOW FAR SHE WENT) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Ugla Hauksdottir answers a question about her film (HOW FAR SHE WENT) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Sadie Townsel (Director/Screenwriter/Editor) of NOTHING PERSONAL (Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Sadie Townsel (Director/Screenwriter/Editor) of NOTHING PERSONAL (Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Three young ladies sharing the directing duties on the film, HOV: Gabielle Piamonte of North Hills Prep, Lillian Rose, and Isabel Brown - bot from of Ursuline Academy of Dallas. (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Three young women sharing the directing duties on the film, HOV: Gabielle Piamonte of North Hills Prep, Lillian Rose, and Isabel Brown – bot from of Ursuline Academy of Dallas. (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Coaching the young filmmakers from the film SERENITY as to where to look for the photographers on the carpet. (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Coaching the young filmmakers from the film SERENITY as to where to look for the photographers on the carpet. (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Elijah Sattler (DP), Lauren Harris (Storyboard/DP), Camryn Woodson (Director), Kelsey Howell (Editor), Eliot Teinert (Editor) SERENITY (Wylie East High School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Elijah Sattler (DP), Lauren Harris (Storyboard/DP), Camryn Woodson (Director), Kelsey Howell (Editor), Eliot Teinert (Editor) SERENITY (Wylie East High School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Arianna Cadeddu (Screenwriter/Director/Editor) of AN ETERNITY IN AKHIRA (Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Arianna Cadeddu (Screenwriter/Director/Editor) of AN ETERNITY IN AKHIRA (Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Eleanor Evans-Wickberg (Screenwriter/Director/Editor) of CHAD, I LOVE YOU (Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Eleanor Evans-Wickberg (Screenwriter/Director/Editor) of CHAD, I LOVE YOU (Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

MUSTANG ISLAND's Craig Elrod having fun on the red carpet. (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company
MUSTANG ISLAND’s Craig Elrod having fun on the red carpet. (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company


 

Craig Elrod (Director/ Co-Screenwriter) of MUSTANG ISLAND (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Craig Elrod (Director/ Co-Screenwriter) of MUSTANG ISLAND (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Nathan Smith (DP/ Co-Screenwriter), Michael Mobley (Producer), Michael Bartnett (Co-Producer) of MUSTANG ISLAND (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Nathan Smith (DP/ Co-Screenwriter), Michael Mobley (Producer), Michael Bartnett (Co-Producer) of MUSTANG ISLAND (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

The talent in front of the camera: John Merriman, Lee Eddy, Macon Blair, Jason Newman (MUSTANG ISLAND) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company
The talent in front of the camera: John Merriman, Lee Eddy, Macon Blair, Jason Newman (MUSTANG ISLAND) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company


 

he MUSTANG ISLAND team: Ben Prosser (Music), Michael Mobley (Producer), John Merriman, Lee Eddy, Macon Blair, Craig Elrod (Director/ Co-Screenwriter), Nathan Smith (DP/ Co-Screenwriter), Jason Newman, Michael Bartnett (Co-Producer), and Evan Smith (Editor) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
he MUSTANG ISLAND team: Ben Prosser (Music), Michael Mobley (Producer), John Merriman, Lee Eddy, Macon Blair, Craig Elrod (Director/ Co-Screenwriter), Nathan Smith (DP/ Co-Screenwriter), Jason Newman, Michael Bartnett (Co-Producer), and Evan Smith (Editor) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

The poster shot with the MUSTANG ISLAND team. (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company
The poster shot with the MUSTANG ISLAND team. (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company


 

Alex Lenhard (Writer/Sound Design), John Donaldson (Director), Jillian Penney (Sound), Galen Bouguyon (CAST) of BLOB DUDE (Garland High School) The poster shot (MUSTANG ISLAND) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company
Alex Lenhard (Writer/Sound Design), John Donaldson (Director), Jillian Penney (Sound), Galen Bouguyon (CAST) of BLOB DUDE (Garland High School) The poster shot (MUSTANG ISLAND) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

The directing team behind ALL YOU NEED: Raven Robinson and Taylor Butler (Richardson High School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
The directing team behind ALL YOU NEED: Raven Robinson and Taylor Butler (Richardson High School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

MUSTANG ISLAND's Craig Elrod gets interviewed. (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
MUSTANG ISLAND’s Craig Elrod gets interviewed. (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

The directors of 06132000: Jack Kraus and Alex Gilmore (Greenhill School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
The directors of 06132000: Jack Kraus and Alex Gilmore (Greenhill School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Jack Kraus and Alex Gilmour of 06132000 having fun on the red carpet. (Photo by Steve Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company)
Jack Kraus and Alex Gilmour of 06132000 having fun on the red carpet. (Photo by Steve Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Alex Mendoza (Producer/Cast), Rene Gomez (Director), Jeremy Gomez (Lead Actor/Producer) FAST HANDS (Dubiski Career High School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Alex Mendoza (Producer/Cast), Rene Gomez (Director), Jeremy Gomez (Lead Actor/Producer) FAST HANDS (Dubiski Career High School)
(Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Rene' Gomez being interviewed (FAST HANDS) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Rene’ Gomez being interviewed (FAST HANDS) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Jorge Aguirre (Producer), Ximena Ayala (CAST), Rafa Lara (Director/Screenwriter) SIZE DOES MATTER (EL TAMAÑO SÍ IMPORTA) Jorge Aguirre, Ximena Ayala, Rafa Lara (SIZE DOES MATTER) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Jorge Aguirre (Producer), Ximena Ayala (CAST), Rafa Lara (Director/Screenwriter) SIZE DOES MATTER (EL TAMAÑO SÍ IMPORTA) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Jorge Aguirre, Ximena Ayala, and Rafa Lara (SIZE DOES MATTER) didn't settle for a poster shot, they went for the full on banner to pose with (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Jorge Aguirre, Ximena Ayala, and Rafa Lara (SIZE DOES MATTER) didn’t settle for a poster shot, they went for the full on banner to pose with (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Mimi Jeffries (LILY) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Mimi Jeffries (LILY) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Kshitij Kapil (DP), Kendall Dunn (Director), Zoe Georgulas (CAST) SHAPESHIFTER (New Tech High School @ Coppell) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Kshitij Kapil (DP), Kendall Dunn (Director), Zoe Georgulas (CAST) SHAPESHIFTER (New Tech High School at Coppell) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Christian Hughes (CAST), Dylan Levenson (Director), and Kshitij Kapil (DP) NIGHTMAN AND HUMMINGBIRD (New Tech High School @ Coppell) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Christian Hughes (CAST), Dylan Levenson (Director), and Kshitij Kapil (DP) NIGHTMAN AND HUMMINGBIRD (New Tech High School at Coppell) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Niki Capron (Director) CROSSING (Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Niki Capron (Director) CROSSING (Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Jack Jelinek (Editor) A PERFECT WORLD (Richardson High School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Jack Jelinek (Editor) A PERFECT WORLD (Richardson High School) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Christine Clusiau (Director) TROPHY (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
Christine Clusiau (Director) TROPHY (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Cullen Hoback (Director) WHAT LIES UPSTREAM (Photo by Steve Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company)
Cullen Hoback (Director) WHAT LIES UPSTREAM (Photo by Steve Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

Cullen Hoback champions the poster for his film, WHAT LIES UPSTREAM (Photo by Steve Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company)
Cullen Hoback champions the poster for his film, WHAT LIES UPSTREAM (Photo by Steve Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

(FRONT ROW) Kshitij Kapil (DP), Amulya Pilla (Director); (BACK ROW) Kaitlyn Rigdon (Assistant Director), Christian Hughes (Talent), Trinity Sullivan (Talent), Daniel Larva (Sound Operator), Zoe Georgulas (Editor) RUFIO (New Tech High School at Coppell) (Photo by Steve Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company)
(FRONT ROW) Kshitij Kapil (DP), Amulya Pilla (Director); (BACK ROW) Kaitlyn Rigdon (Assistant Director), Christian Hughes (CAST), Trinity Sullivan (CAST), Daniel Larva (Sound Operator), Zoe Georgulas (Editor) RUFIO (New Tech High School at Coppell) (Photo by Steve Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company)


 

The red carpet interviews were lively (NIGHTMAN AND HUMMNGBIRD) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)
The red carpet interviews were lively (NIGHTMAN AND HUMMNGBIRD) (Photo by John R. Strange/Selig Polyscope Company)

Craig Elrod ‘s MUSTANG ISLAND shared the Dallas International Film Festival red carpet a virtual army of local high school filmmakers