TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Whether they shoot thrilling murder mysteries, zany slapstick comedies or carefully crafted documentaries, University of Alabama students will show off their film talents during the 5th annual UA Showcase on May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bama Theatre.

Entries will be judged by television directors, Hollywood producers and commercial advertisers. Awards will be given to the top fiction, documentary, music video, animation/experimental and promotional films.

To give student work more exposure, the videos will be posted online to a YouTube channel. Online viewers will vote for their favorite film April 18-25. The student film that wins the hearts of the online audience and a panel of alumni will receive the first Audience & Alumni Choice Award.

Telecommunications and film professor Aaron Greer said many Showcase award winners have gone one to win awards at the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham and other competitions across the country.

"The Showcase is an opportunity for student media makers to show their work on the big screen and be recognized and awarded for their creative accomplishments. It recognizes the best film and video work being produced at UA every year and draws attention to the importance and increasing popularity of video production and short-subject film," Greer said.

"With the advent of YouTube and similar video sharing services, more and more people have a means of screening their work for the public, but there's no experience like watching a film on a big movie screen with a live, enthusiastic audience," he added.

For more information, contact Greer at agreer@bama.ua.edu or 205/348-8657.

The Creative Campus Initiative is a student centered initiative that focuses on broadening the scope and deepening the experience of arts and cultural opportunities on the UA campus and in the Tuscaloosa community Five student-led departments have been established to accomplish this mission: Creative Campus, Creative Community, Creative Education, Creative Economy, and Creative Leadership. Under the auspices of the UA Office of Academic Affairs, Creative Campus seeks to build synergy though collaboration.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of a planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.