Deep inside the loft of O'Shaughnessy Hall, the Notre Dame Department of Film, Television, and Theater will unlock its vault Thursday to showcase the 14th annual Notre Dame Student Film Festival. In the past, student films have pushed the boundaries of conventional filmmaking, creating many thought provoking works that are as much experimental as they are fresh. And this year, word has it that Irish football guru Tyrone Willingham will make a guest appearance in one of the films. So hold on tight, take a deep breath, and prepare yourself for another round of titillating entertainment.

In 1988, Professor Ted Mandell envisioned a venue where students could show their films to the entire Notre Dame community. Mandell realized that the films were meant to be seen and not just shown in class. However, with limited resources the department was forced to hold the screenings in the basement of the Center for Continuing Education (CCE), with only 75 people who attended the first year's showcase. Since those turbulent times, the campus has embraced the Film Festival and helped it relocate to larger facilities: first the Snite Museum, and presently the state of the art Carrey Auditorium in the Hesburgh Library. In recent years, the Festival has sold out nearly every show — over 2,000 tickets!

While production programs such as NYU or USC are often thought of as the premier schools to learn filmmaking, Notre Dame has found its niche in providing a rigorous and intimate setting that strives for creativity and ingenuity. The words "low budget film" don't quite accurately describe these movies. "No budget" would be a better term. And not only are the students responsible for writing a screenplay, casting a film, finding a location, getting a crew, and shooting the film itself, but they also must edit it all into short films and documentaries that capture their message. In short, the students must do in three months time what professionals do for a living.

Julia Dickinson, who acted in last year's film "This Time You'll Watch Me On You" and this year's film "Billboard Liberation," has been very impressed in the amount of time and effort that goes into the projects. At first, Dickinson says that she thought acting for movies would be easier than the stage because there is no live audience; however, her first impression rapidly changed. "Every time I messed up and forced a reshoot of the take, it cost the director $100 out of their own pocket, so everyone really has to be on top of things," she realized.

An example of the intense production regiment can be found in Jill Godmilow's Advanced Film class, a 6-credit graduate-level plunge into the depths of filmmaking. Students in Godmilow's class must make an eight- to 10-minute 16mm color film and edit it by hand. In order to do this, they have to splice the film with a razor and then tape it together, while also making sure that the sound stays in sync with the picture. Editing by hand teaches skills that the aspiring students can use throughout life: organization, rhythm and a plethora of patience.

Past Notre Dame film grads have taken these lessons and gone on to jobs in everything from NFL Films to HBO. Some, like Maggie Moran, have gone to more exotic places to pursue their passions. Moran traveled home to Alaska after graduation last year and is presently working at an advertising agency. She is also the producer of the Anchorage Film Festival.

While many venture to New York and Hollywood after graduation, Moran felt that going home to Alaska was the right choice for her. "Opportunity sprung up everywhere and I was sure that if I came back, I would find my way easily and meet the other nutty folks who moved up/back here with the same intentions." In part, her documentary featured in this year's Student Film Festival reflects the decision. "The Two of Us Here" is a dialogue about the past, present and future that relies heavily on photographs and animation.

"I manipulated photographs as a way of acknowledging that the "truth" I was telling was my truth, not the truth or a truth, but mine," Moran says. "Documentaries are often times manipulative devices which are left unacknowledged. I didn't want to pretend that what I was showing was a polished document worthy of trust, I wanted instead to reveal my hand in the creation."

Some other directors have chosen to stay closer to Notre Dame after graduation. Ryan Lockwood, who directed the documentary "Hate the Rangers" in this year's festival, graduated last semester and is currently working at WNDU as the weekend morning producer. "FTT was the best thing I could have done," Lockwood says. "I learned that working with others can be difficult but keeping a good attitude and outlook helps … so does laughter."

Lockwood's documentary looks at diehard Scottish football fans at a Chicago bar. First, though, Lockwood said it was necessary to share a few drinks with the fans for the first hour to make them comfortable before they even began shooting. "After about 30 minutes I asked them to sing me a verse of `The Fields of Athenry,' and it was perfect. It couldn't have been any better."

This year, Mandell has arranged the diverse blend of films to provide a "roller coaster" effect for the audience. "The films are kind of like watching a lot of different Saturday Night Live skits together," he says. "They're all different, and you have to process each one as a separate entity." Indeed, everything from digital documentaries to a black and white silent film are represented in this year's festival, which totals eleven films. These pieces come from three of the four production classes offered at Notre Dame: Intermediate Film, Advanced Film, and Advanced Digital Production. Here is a sneak preview of the films that will be featured in this year's Student Film Festival:

Hate the Rangers (Ryan Lockwood and Angela Grimmer)

An entertaining look at rabid Scottish football fans at a Chicago bar who cheer hard for their teams but bitterly smear their archrivals.

Billboard Liberation (Adam Weltler and Tim Ryan)

Is it possible to live outside the world of the ad? This film explores this question and takes an intimate portrait of those radical citizens who take and make the omnipresent billboard their own.

Tangled Up in Blue (Brian Galla and Paul Ybarra)

A beautifully acted story of a college grad who can't get going with his life. The film explores the perils of a troubled 25 year old who still lives home with his grandmother.

The Two of Us Here (Maggie Moran and Brent Buckman)

This stunning visual piece questions where home really is found while also reflecting on the four years that both Moran and Buckman spent at Notre Dame. The informal portrait of scrap book memories also discusses their futures.

Seven Nights a Week (Aaron Perri and Matt Peters)

This documentary examines the inside world of the South Bend bingo scene. Everyone from the people who play the game to the ones who rake in the money are featured in this film.

How To Love Yourself (Taylor Romigh and Dan Ackerman)

This "self-help" video features six vignettes that deconstruct the empty phrases of "trusting ourselves," "believing in love," and "forgiving ourselves," to ultimately show that life is more complex than words can summarize.

Adam's Puzzle (Todd Boruff and Andy Gomez)

This silent black-and-white film is about a boy whose Rubik's Cube-like toy becomes the center of attention at a playground. A well-crafted and fresh film.

Racist (Dustin Park and Peter Richardson)

This intriguing documentary takes a close examination of Mathew Hale, the leader of a white supremacist movement in Peoria, Ill. A daring and disturbing piece.

Two Boys (Chris Bannister and Liam Dacey)

A seductive musical fable about the sexual education of the American boy. A teen tries to seduce three sexy women using the lines he heard from the media. When the bravado doesn't pay off, he falls into a state of rage against the female — the same type of rage that can fuel a serial killer's delusions.

Buckthorn Berry Pie (Scott Little and Tom Griffin)

The tale of a relentless curmudgeon who is mourning the death of his wife and avoids contact from his friends and family. One day, his wife appears before him and his outlook on the world changes forever.

Empty Orchestra (Jeremy Renteria and Scott Little)

Ever wonder what happens late at night at karaoke bars in South Bend? This documentary takes a look at the many players who make up this world: from the performers to those who spin the discs.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about the Film Festival is how it is able to draw such large audiences year after year, and how excited people become about participating or even watching the films. When asked if Dickinson would participate in acting in another film in the future, she didn't hesitate in saying that she would jump at the chance. "All the people I've met in the film department are very interesting and it's amazing to get to see the final product." And it is easy to see how the talent displayed in the festival will help students find jobs after graduation. Moran describes her experience at Notre Dame as essential to her current work in Alaska. "In the "real world," I understand as much as if not more about film, equipment and technology than everyone I work with - and I learned it all at ND."

The 2003 Notre Dame Student Film Festival will be held at the Hesburgh Library Auditorium on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday (Jan. 23, 24, 25 and 27) at 7:30 p.m, and 9:45 p.m. Tickets are available at the LaFortune Box Office. Admission is $4.00.

• The Art of Filmmaking