Emagine Entertainment, Folktellers for Literacy to Host Red-Carpet Event for Student Filmmakers

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Exhibition News • Boxoffice Staff • March 04 2026

Folktellers Studios and Emagine Entertainment have announced the celebrity judges who are set to evaluate student-created flims for the inaugural Folktellers for Literacy Program’s Student Filmmakers to Shine contest. The contest, which encourages storytelling and literacy in young readers, challenging them to script, direct, and produce their own short films, will culminate in a grand finale, to be held at one of Emagine’s Michigan locations on July 3.

The program invited students to dive into Josef Bastian’s award-winning seven-book series, Excerpts from an Unknown Guidebook. After reading the books, participants created their own three-minute movie trailers inspired by the series’ characters, worlds, and themes.

The expert celebrity judging panel includes:

• Terri Lee (Terri Lee Chandler) – Detroit-based film critic for WWJ Newsradio 950 (CBS affiliate), screenwriter, UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting graduate, member of the Critics Choice Association and African American Film Critics Association, SAG-AFTRA member, and founder of The I See You Film Awards. Terri is passionate about amplifying emerging voices and everyday storytelling.

• Carl Weyant – Michigan filmmaker, actor, and CEO of Alliance Studios International. A champion of purpose-driven, family-oriented narratives, Carl leads high-concept projects including Harsens Island Revenge (2025) and Hold It Now!!! (2026), revitalizing independent filmmaking in the Midwest.

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