SEFF Binghamton: Student Experimental Film Festival in Binghamton
The Student Experimental Film Festival in Binghamton, also known as SEFF Binghamton, is an annual film festival in Binghamton, NY. The film festival features experimental films made by students from around the country. The film festival is run by Binghamton University students enrolled in Curating Film and Video, an undergraduate course offered by the cinema department.
SEFF Binghamton is one of several projects that the Binghamton University cinema department organizes to celebrate its experimental roots. The cinema department was founded by Ken Jacobs and Larry Gottheim in 1969 and which has been made up of many notable filmmakers and scholars over the years, such as Steve Anker, Stephanie Barber, Alan Berliner, Gregg Biermann, Daniel Eisenberg, Ariana Gerstein, Richard Herskowitz, J. Hoberman, Bill T. Jones, Mark LaPore, Mark McElhatten, Ken Ross, Rene Shafransky, Phil Solomon, Art Spiegelman, Phil Weisman, and Adam Zucker. Binghamton University organizes a biannual showcase of Binghamton University student-made films and videos as well as conducts a weekly Experimental Film series open to the public called, BU Film Salon, a year-long film series that screens films twice weekly each semester. Furthermore, the Binghamton University cinema department also conducts a visiting artist series throughout the fall and spring semesters bringing in experimental filmmakers from throughout America in order for the public and the student body to meet and discuss experimental film with esteemed experimental filmmakers.
Mission Statement
SEFF Binghamton: Student Experimental Film Festival is a student run film festival located in Binghamton, NY. It focuses on experimental pieces that challenge its viewers and filmmakers to go outside their comfort zone. We take films from students, across the United States, and organize a two-day event to showcase those films to the students and local community. We as students who are enrolled in Curating Film and Video at Binghamton University strive to create awareness of this artistic sub-culture that is becoming more prevalent in today’s society.
2012 SEFF Binghamton
The 2012 SEFF Binghamton was held on December 7th and 8th, 2012 in Downtown Binghamton, NY and Binghamton University respectively. The first night of the festival, Friday, December 8, was a part of the City of Binghamton's monthly First Friday Art Walk, with the first program of the festival screened at the Art Mission & Theater in downtown Binghamton. Four programs of short, student-made experimental films were screened at 2012 SEFF Binghamton. While none of the featured films were made by Binghamton University students, each program was curated by a Binghamton student.
Explorers of the Established -- Currated by Ryan Kimiecik
- IBM 7094 (Laura Marie Judge, 2.5 min., Video, Keene State College)
- Ean's Day ( Ben Crouse & Jacob Sluka, 3.5 min., Video, California Institute of the Arts)
- Treeman (Claire Ying-Chin Wang, 16.5 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- Symphony (Nicholas Langley, 5.5 min., Video, University of Colorado at Boulder)
- Las Delicias (Ford Bostwick & Alexander Svoboda, 7.5 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- Sphinx: Hall of Records (Fred Frederiksen, 19.5 min., Video, University of Illinois at Chicago)
- A B GG (D. Jesse Damazo & Sinah Ober, 6 min., Video, University of Iowa)
- Mo(ve)ment (Dylan Lowry, 20 min., Video, Ithaca College)
Tendencies of Existence--Currated by Brittany Cardamone
- Time (Amanda Knigga, 4 min., Video, Ball State University)
- Irretrievable Illumination (Keaton Fox, 2.5 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- Becoming (Alejandro Parra, 4 min., Video, University of California, San Diego)
- Naturalized (Wolfgang Hastert, 3.5 min., Video, Duke University)
- A Robin's Nest (Keaton Fox, 2 min., Video, Syracuse University)
Knowledge to the Future (Terry Jones, 4 min., Video, Syracuse University) - Woman I (Anna Hogg, 2 min., Video, University of Virginia)
- Mary & Pete, from the “living with” Series (Brenda L. Burmeister, 4 min., Video, Duke University)
- Ruby (Braxton Hood, 3.5 min., Video, Duke University)
- Grandma (Andrew Mui, 9 min., HD Video, Massachusetts College of Art)
- Tropic of Cancer (A. Currie Lee, 6 min., Video, Maryland Institute College of Art)
- Eulogy (Susanna Kim, 9.5 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- il Volo dell'angelo (Caterina Masia, 4.5 min., Video, Keene State College)
- Replacement (Katarzyna Plazinska, 4 min., HD Video, University of Iowa)
Reel Feelings--Curated by Dean Tepper
- Untitled #2 (Brendan Field, 3.5 min., 16mm, Emerson College)
- Rain (Keaton Fox, 4 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- Moth in a Corner (Raina Kim, 6.5 min., Video, California Institute of the Arts)
- The Product of my Sadness (Corrinne LeNeave, 2.5 min., Video, Ball State University)
- Like a Jellyfish in January (Keaton Fox, 4 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- A Table Setting (Corrinne LeNeave, 3 min., Video, Ball State University)
- The Sheer Red Screen (Anna Hogg, 9 min., Video, University of Virginia)
- Derived from Mud (Niki Murphy, 6 min., Video, Maryland Institute College of Art)
- Touch (Pinwen Lien, 2 min., Video, Emerson College)
- Production (Tian Guan, 3 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- I see you (Susanna Kim, 5.5 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- It’s War (Samantha Stephan, 4 min., Video, University of Iowa)
- Two Voicemails on a Sunday (Keaton Fox, 3 min., Video, Syracuse University)
Debunking Depth--Curated by Carl Schrecongost
- Gridlock (Nook Harquail, Alison Helzer, Ryan Hueston, Nick O’Leary, Alex Stockton, & Victoria Tucker, 2.5 min., 16mm, Dartmouth College)
- Static Revelations (Robin Huey, 1.5 min., Video, University of California, San Diego)
- Commuting to Luna (Nook Harquail, 3.5 min., Video, Dartmouth College)
- Gentlemen Prefer Glitch (Holly Lay, 4 min., Video, Ball State University)
- Memory (Alison Helzer, 3 min., Video, Dartmouth College)
- Through a Tunnel (Weigang Song, 4.5 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- Acknowledge the Edge (Rebeccah Pope, 1.5 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- Down on the Ground (Mike Stoltz, 1 min., 16mm, California Institute of the Arts)
- the not so ongoing smoke (Jolene Mok, 8 min., Video, Duke University)
- Girl.Tree.Apple.Fly (Rebeccah Pope, 5 min., Video, Syracuse University)
- A tender case #1 (Laura Marie Judge, 5 min., Video, Keene State College)
- Somnambulist (Raina Kim, 8.5 min., Video, California Institute of the Arts)
2011 SEFF Binghamton
2011 SEFF Binghamton was held the weekend of December 2 and 3. The first night of the festival, Friday, December 2, was a part of the City of Binghamton's monthly First Friday Art Walk, with the first program of the festival screened at the Know Theatre in downtown Binghamton.
Four programs of short, student-made experimental films were screened at 2011 SEFF Binghamton. While none of the featured films were made by Binghamton University students, each program was curated by a Binghamton student.
Alien Movements: A Transformation Occurs -- Curated by Julia Jin
- Fountain by Elizabeth Webb, University of Virginia
- Fluid Movement by Erika Sofia Murillo, Dartmouth College
- Tempered Unyoung by Lindsay Taylor Jackson, Keene State College
- Transience by Brian Murphy, Visual Studies Workshop
- La Tension by Caterina Masia, Keene State College
- Fourth World by LJ Frezza, Emerson College
- Escape by Evan Paschke, Syracuse University
- Shape by Eusong Lee, California Institute of Arts
- Melt in the Shade by Kyoungju Kim, Syracuse University
- Reservoir by Takahiro Suzuki, University of Virginia
- Tebbet by Deniz Tortum, Bard College
- Subdued Glow by Antonio Vargas, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee
- Leafless by Nazli Dinçel, San Francisco Art Institute
Our Time -- Curated by Chauna D’Angelo
- Ballet for Tape Music by T. Kane Stanton, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Remastered by Bena Dam, University of Virginia
- A London Segment by Dylan Lowry, Ithaca College
- North South by Max Weinman, Bard College
- Pleasure Girl by Vashti Harrison, California Institute of the Arts
- Light Escapes Through the Intervals by Naoko Tasaka, California Institute of Arts
- Light Performances #1 by Dillon Buss, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Of Light in Extension, Of Absolute Domain by Jon Perez, University of Central Florida
- Suffering For The Duration by Daniel Watkins, University of Central Florida
- Sheepless by Matthew Whalen, University of Colorado
Visions of Home -- Curated by Matti Bowen
- Motorcity by John Clayton Lee, Maryland Institute College of Art
- Forron by Lindsay Taylor Jackson, Keene State College
- Sponge Candy Story by Yoshimi Mashiro, SUNY Buffalo
- gia đình by Bena Dam, University of Virginia
- Sammy Gurl by Taylor McIntosh, Keene State College
- 106 River Road by Josh Weissbach, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee
- Polymorphia by Ivan Kotevski, City College of New York
- Orion's Belt by Michael Bucuzzo, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Pinecastle Rd. by Takahiro Suzuki, University of Virginia
- Portiragnes by Max Weinman, Bard College
The Procession of Textural Abstraction -- Curated by Casey Addason
- Off the Wall by Anna Edwardson, Mark Li, and Erika Murillo, Dartmouth College
- Road Series: 002 by Katie Giguere, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Mind Over Matte-r by Anna Edwardson, Tommy Ford, Andy Gay, Max Hammer, Amanda Mata, Annie Munger, Erika Murillo, Annora NG, Troup Wood, Jin Yan, and Allie Young, Dartmouth College
- Calle 27 No. 1016 by Josh Weissbach, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee
- Addiction Obsession by Catie Eller, San Francisco Art Institute
- Void_Two by Alexander Dupuis, Dartmouth College
- Yes We Can-Certo by Alexander Dupuis, Dartmouth College
- Beauty Evaporates by June Kyu Park, Syracuse University
- Ondine's Curse by Charles Chadwick, San Francisco Art Institute
- 115 E. 12th by Maura Johnson, University of Colorado
- I Swim Now by Sarah Biagini, University of Colorado at Boulder
- A Shot of Dark Water by John Clayton Lee, Maryland Institute College of Art
2010 SEFF Binghamton
2010 SEFF Binghamton consisted of four programs. Each of which was curated and presented by Binghamton University students.
Inside and Out -- Curated by Brad Baumes
Inside and Out is a program devoted to the idea of using cinema as a language to define ourselves, our surroundings, and our feelings. Issues such as identity, personal vs public space, and explorations of various forms of media are presented for your consideration.
- This Kind of Town by Marcy Saude, UC at Boulder
- Manifested Destiny by David Oonk, UC at Boulder
- Reflect by Tsen-Chu Hsu, SF Art Institute
- Nuke ‘Em, Duke by LJ Frezza, Emerson College
- Hangman’s Tree by Catie Eller, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
- Einsamkeit by Sang Bum Heo, SAIC
- Thembi’s Diary by Jisoo Kim, CalArts
- One Over Wanderlust by Brendon Kingsbury, UCF
New Weird America -- Curated by Mac Cosselman
New Weird America explores new currents in experimental documentary, specifically that nebulous crossing place at which documentary and fiction meet.
- The Donut Tree by Lorena De Miranda Marques, City College of New York
- The Vagrant of Ephemera by Charles Chadwick, San Francisco Art Institute
- Old Man, Can I Have Your Daughter by Melissa Rogers, Emerson College
- Rebeast by Sally Van Meter, UC at Boulder
- Phases of Sacrifice by Ivan Kotevski, City College of New York
- I want to forget everything bad that ever happened ever by Benji Sayed, Ithaca College
- The Barbie Box by Sally Van Meter, UC at Boulder
- Yes, No, Maybe, Go! by Joe Fuller, Kansas City Art Institute
- Wyoming by Jason Georgiades, University of Pittsburgh
- I am Mrs. Archie Brownlee by Lindsay Laven, San Francisco Art Institute
- The Hills Have Houses by Bayley Sweitzer, Bard College
ReRun -- Curated by Rory Hayes
ReRun is a program that aims to show how repetition can play a major role in cinema. Repetition helps to convey an idea to the viewer, as well as emphasize a point that the filmmaker is making. This program focuses on the repetitiveness of images, sounds, a combination of the two and how this effects the viewer.
- (Don’t) Blink by Alexander Cunningham, Ithaca College
- Autopista Del Sur by Ingrid Echeverry, UC at Boulder
- One Man’s Garbage...Another’s Treasure by Lorena De Miranda Marques, City College of New York
- Sample Fiend by Elliot Bamberger, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Kiss Me, I Love You by Daniel Bida, SUNY Purchase
- Window by Isaac Brooks, Emerson College
- Tourist by Jon Dorn, Emerson College
- Sofra by Deniz Tortum, Bard College
- Abstract Symphony by Lorena De Miranda Marques, City College of New York
- Tetrameter by Katherine Giguere, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Washes by Norbert Shieh, California Institute of the Arts
The Ghost Who Walks: Lying Between the Real and Imagined -- Curated by Shanshan Wang
By using fragmentations, unusual camera angles, innovative manipulations, and montage editing, the eleven artistic visions in The Ghost Who Walks blur the distinction between imagination and reality, reveling in paradox and contradiction. The essence of these films reveal the subjective sensibility of cinema as witness.
- Seance by Seth Fragomen, San Francisco Art Institute
- Infitar by Deniz Tortum, Bard College
- Transsubstantiation by Charles Chadwick, San Francisco Art Institute
- Ghost Bird by Sally Van Meter, University of Colorado at Boulder
- Spitting Feathers by Ian Mcdade, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Debul Wubman by Lindsay Laven, San Francisco Art Institute
- Dünya/Earth by Deniz Tortum, Bard College
- Dance With Me by Catie Eller, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
- The Eternal Recurrence by Charles Chadwick, San Francisco Art Institute
- Smear City by Greg Hanson, San Francisco Art Institute
- H1CAZ by Seth Fragomen, San Francisco Art Institute