Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Neuqua Valley students win top awards at silent film fest

A film created by students at Neuqua Valley High School was one of three to be awarded Outstanding Achievement in Cinema at the 9th annual Student Silent Film Festival in Downers Grove.

The school’s film, “King of Hearts,” also received the Audience Choice award.

More than 300 people attended the Jan. 28 film festival, where the submitted films created by students from 12 Chicago area high schools were screened at the Tivoli Theatre with live accompaniment by Derek Berg, one of the event’s founders.

Homewood-Flossmoor High School and Vernon Hills High School also won an Outstanding Achievement in Cinema award.

A panel of judges, who are professionals in entertainment or art education, selected the winners based on the quality of the story narrative, development, camera work, lighting and editing.

“The quality of the entries was outstanding, showing a mastery of visual storytelling that seems to get more impressive every year,” another founder, Ed Newmann, said in a statement. “It’s rewarding to see such a huge crowd appreciate the talent coming out of our local high schools.”

League of Women Voters holding two candidate forums

The League of Women Voters of Naperville will hold two online forums on Tuesday, Feb. 10, for Naperville-area candidates facing opposition in the March 17 primary.

At 6:30 p.m. Democratic candidates running for DuPage County Board District 5, which includes Naperville, will answer questions. Seeking to fill one four-year term are incumbent Sadia Covert and challengers Marylee Leu and Ian Holzhauer.

It will be followed by an 8 p.m. forum with the Republican candidates running for the U.S. House representing the 11th District, the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Republican primary candidates are Jeff Walter, Michael Pierce, Tedora Brown and Charlie Kim. Brown’s nominating petitions are facing an objection, according to the DuPage County clerk’s office.

All off the candidates have confirmed they will attend the event, organizers said.

To register for a Zoom link for the 6:30 p.m. forum, go to us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uw2z19pST6qDhLjEth_oIQ#/registration.

To register for Zoom link for the 8 p.m. forum, go to us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IHDjT0lQQ8OB3Y4WdQQhrg#/registration.

After the event, videos of the forums will be posted to the League’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.