Lights! Camera! Action! Kent County teens in grades 6–12 have a chance to make a movie, win a prize and see their film on the big screen. Kent District Library is pleased to present the Kent County Teen Film Festival. Applications and film submissions are due Friday, January 22, 2016. The Festival will take place from 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Celebration! Cinema North and is free and open to the public.
A jury will review all submitted entries and select films to be screened at the Festival. Prizes will be awarded for the best films in various categories.

“We know that Kent County teens have amazing artistic skills, whether it be acting, directing, editing or composing original music,” said Monica Walen, Youth Specialist at the East Grand Rapids Branch of Kent District Library. “The Film Festival is a great way for them to show off their talents to the entire community. Plus, they’ll be able to see their creations on the big screen!”

Festival rules and further information including a link to the entry form can be found at www.kdl.org/teens. Questions about the Festival can be emailed to teenfilmfestival@kdl.org. Celebration! Cinema North is located at 2121 Celebration Dr. NE, Grand Rapids. The Kent County Teen Film Festival is sponsored by CompuCraft and Grand Valley State University Film and Video Production.

Blood donors head to the movies for free!

Lifesaving superheroes aren’t just on the big screen. They are right here in the Grand Rapids community. This holiday, before people head out to see the newest blockbuster movie, Michigan Blood invites them to Be a Star, by donating blood. Everyone who attempts to donate will receive a free movie pass and free popcorn from Celebration! Cinema.

No matter what the season, blood is always needed by patients in hospitals around the state.  In fact, Michigan Blood needs to collect more than 2200 units each and every week. Around the holidays, when people are traditionally traveling, exchanging gifts, or heading to the movies, the number of people donating blood declines. So this year, Michigan Blood and Celebration! Cinema have joined together to make blood donation part of the holiday tradition.

Dates and Times for the Be a Star event vary around the state. To find the location near you, go to miblood.org.  In the Grand Rapids area:

Be A Star

Free movie pass and popcorn for everyone who attempts to donate

Main Donor Center – 1036 Fuller Ave NE

Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24^th 8:00am-3:30pm

Thursday, December 26^th 8:00am-7:00pm

New Year’s Eve, Tuesday December 31^st

8:00am-3:30pm

New Year’s Day, Wednesday January 1^st 8:00am-3:00pm

Thursday, January 2^nd 8:00am-7:00pm

Appointments highly encouraged.

Any healthy person 17 or older (or 16 with parental consent) who weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to give blood every 56 days. Blood donors should bring photo ID (or two forms of non-photo ID). Appointments are highly encouraged and can be made online at www.miblood.org or by calling 1-866-MIBLOOD.

Go beyond YouTube! Teens in 6-12th grade are invited to meet the challenge of producing a real film for the Kent District Library Teen Film Festival. The top ten entries will be shown on the big screen at Celebration Cinema North, 2121 Celebration Drive NE on Saturday February 12 at 10:30 a.m. Prizes go to three winners. Film submissions are due this Saturday, January 8! Additional information and applications can be found at www.kdl.org/teens/go/film_contest.