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UL Lafayette alumnus to show new short film this weekend at Acadiana Center for the Arts
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- The Southern Screen Festival is an annual event that brings together emerging and established filmmakers to showcase their work. One of the filmmakers highlighted this year is a University of Louisiana at Lafayette alumnus who is premiering his new short film, "Evangeline."
Cory St. Eward said it has been an emotional journey.
"A lot of emotion. You know, it's been a journey, as every film is, to get it to a place that it's ready to show to the public. It's been amazing to see all the support and the amount of people that are I've been waiting for this day to have it play in Acadiana," St. Ewart said.
Studying film in New York, St. Ewart set the goal of bringing the poem of Evangeline to the big screen to showcase Louisiana culture.
That goal gained the support of his home state when he was allowed to film at Longfellow State Park and in an Acadian-style home in Breaux Bridge.
"So much of this film was made through the generosity of the community within itself that is supporting another community member just chasing a dream," he said.
St. Ewart also had the chance to highlight the talent of Acadiana's lead stars in the film.
"Renée Reed, she's an Acadiana local. She teaches Cajun French language and music. She had a dream about playing Evangeline one day. Her costar, Hick Cheramie, he's from Lafourche parish and does acting as well as oil rig work, which I think is such an authentic Cajun actor," he said.
As the cast and crew have put their heart and souls into their short film, St. Ewart has already had the chance to screen the film in the New Orleans Film Festival and now looks to show the rest of Acadiana how much their culture can impact the world of movies.
"Now I'm showing in Lafayette and I'm confident and excited to show this film that I think will make a lot of people proud, happy, excited about what filmmaking can be in Acadiana and south Louisiana in general," he said.
Evangeline will premiere at the Acadiana Center for the Arts on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 2:45 p.m.