As a part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), ReadingFILM has received a grant of $200,000 for 2023! We are pleased to announce we will be bringing new staff on-board to further our mission of Greater Reading as a hub for independent film production and screening and empowering local youth to showcase their talent as the next generation of filmmakers.
We are currently looking for creative professionals to join our team! We are seeking a Creative Director, Program Manager and Office Manager. View the job descriptions and apply here.
Introducing new Vice President, ReadingFilm Board of Directors, Dr. E. Michele Ramsey
Dr. E. Michele Ramsey is an associate professor of Communication Arts & Sciences and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Penn State, Berks College. Michele’s co-authored book,Major Decisions: College, Career, and the Case for the Humanities, was published in March2020 by The University of Pennsylvania Press. She’s won a number of awards for her teaching, research, and service. She teaches a number of courses including the following: Public Speaking, Gender and Communication, Conflict Management, Transformative Texts in the Humanities, and Identity, Citizenship, and the Rhetoric of American Horror Film. She’s also taught Feminist Rhetorical Theory, First Amendment Law, Black American Contemporary Political Rhetoric, and The Rhetoric of Television and Film.
New ReadingFilm Board Members Lisa Eichhorn and Cara Cotellese
Reading native, Lisa Eichhorn is an actress, writer and producer. She made her film debut in 1979 in the John Schlesinger film “Yanks”, opposite Richard Gere, for which she received two Golden Globe nominations. Her international career has included film, theatre and television. She appeared alongside Lee Remick in the Merchant-Ivory production “The Europeans” (1979), opposite Treat Williams in “Why Would I Lie?” (1980) and was “Mo” Cutter in “Cutter’s Way” (1981), opposite Jeff Bridges and John Heard. In the 90s, Eichhorn has begun to play mother roles, notably Jesse Bradford’s mother, sent to a sanitarium, in Steven Soderbergh’s “King of the Hill” (1993) and the First Lady in the pallid comedy “First Kid” (1996). Ms. Eichhorn continues to work both on stage and on screen.
Cara Cotellese has been teaching in higher education for over 30 years. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cinema, Television and Media production at Kutztown University where her specialty is live television. Cotellese came to Kutztown University in the Fall of 2008 after teaching for 18 years in the Cinema/Video Program at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA. Cara has been on the ReadingFilm Advisory Council and participated as a Judge and moderator for the past two years.
Students! Apply now through April 3rd to our Five-Minute FilmFEST!
The Five Minute FilmFEST is a FREE regional film challenge open to Berks County, Pennsylvania high school students. Students have the opportunity to create their best work and compete against other students in the region for trophies, prizes, and well-deserved recognition! Our mission is to encourage talented student filmmakers and media arts enthusiasts to explore the art of filmmaking. We want to empower our local youth to share their stories through digital media and develop the next generation of filmmakers!
Registration: The deadline to register is February 17, 2023. Students and teachers fill out the short registration form ASAP at: https://forms.gle/2KqZRo6vPxdvscJN9.
Your registration lets us know how many students and schools are participating this year, which enables us to plan better and provide the best experience for you.
In addition, registering lets us keep in touch with you about film-related opportunities and announcements.
Submissions: The deadline to submit is March 31, 2023, and the late deadline is April 3, 2023.
Films/videos should be submitted by uploading to FilmFreeway at https://filmfreeway.com/FiveMinuteFilmFEST
- Notifications will be sent April 10, 2023.
- Films will be screened in part or whole at the live award ceremony April 27th, 2023. Location and celebrity guest speaker to be announced!
- FiveMinute FilmFEST winning films will also screen during StudentFEST during the 2023 ReadingFilmFEST.
Applications are FREE and submissions are welcomed through Friday, March 31, 2023 (late deadline is Monday April 3, 2023).
Application Instructions, award, and category information can be found at https://filmfreeway.com/FiveMinuteFilmFEST
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