Class Act

Student Films Across America, Sat., June 30, 7 p.m., International House, 3701 Chestnut St.

by Sara Scott

screening

It's not for nothing that student films have a reputation for being a little, well, sophomoric. But for every stinker, there's another gem. Take Robert Rodriguez's early effort Bedhead, about a girl who takes revenge on her bullying brother. The 8-minute ditty, posted on YouTube, is arguably more entertaining than any blockbuster sequel playing down the street.

Luckily, you don't have to search for today's best student films � three industrious college kids have driven cross-country to bring them to you. Brothers Brian and Steven Amos created the Student Films Across America competition to allow budding filmmakers to showcase their work on the big screen. They snagged eight high-profile industry workers, including screenwriter John August and actor Michael Emerson (Lost), to serve as judges. This summer, the brothers, along with media coordinator Ben Mauk, are visiting 50 cities with the winning films in tow.

"The reaction we have received to the films has been greater than we anticipated," says Steven Amos. "It's great to see a crowd walk away from the screening and have their views of student films being amateurish be reversed."

The 90-minute program will feature several shorts from different genres. Moon Molson, a student at Columbia University, won best drama for Pop Foul, in which a boy witnesses his father being beaten up. Though dad forbids him to tell mom, she understands more than they realize, and the boy gets caught in a web of lies.

Kimberly Craig of Savannah College of Art and Design won best documentary for The American Glorification of Unique Personalities: or David Andrews Is Just a Normal Guy, which spotlights Savannah luminary David Andrews, known around town for being an extremely bright and eccentric guy. The film weaves together stories by locals and commentary by professors on why society builds up celebrities as characters.

Also on the lineup: NYU student Dan Eckman's Checkout follows a recent ninja school grad who can't find decent work. Instead, he moves back in with his parents and gets a job at a grocery store, where frat boys repeatedly try to score beer without ID. And lastly, Smile, directed by fellow NYU-er Aimee Gillette, is a humorous profile of Isaac Frock, who allegedly owns the world's most beautiful teeth. In his search for a mate with an equally stunning smile, Isaac comes face-to-face with the biggest choice he'll ever make: perfect teeth or the perfect girl?

(sara.scott@citypaper.net)

Student Films Across America, Sat., June 30, 7 p.m., $10, International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125, www.studentfilmsacrossamerica.com.