BETHANY POWLS Editor-in-Chief
The Academy Awards, more commonly known as the Oscars, is an annual event for the film industry, premiering in the spring. The first Oscars were held in 1929, and since then, they have been hosted every year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
Similarly, Bethel has its own annual film festival and award ceremony. Occurring annually in the spring, the Bubbert Awards have been hosted on campus and have served as a source of entertainment for students since then.
“Each year we roll out the red carpet for students and staff to enjoy the many entries ranging from the funny and absurd, to the dramatic and thought provoking,” Ana Parra, coordinator of student activities and engagement, said.
The entire event is organized by SAC (Student Activities Council) and it is tradition for people to dress up for the event, as it usually features a red carpet and an assortment of desserts.
“Videos were sent to SAC and we made sure they were appropriate. I don't recall how long the videos were, but I would estimate about 2-5 minutes. In the actual event, the FAC was transformed into an elegant setting for pictures and it became an opportunity for everyone to dress up. The first video played was the winning from last year,” Capri Stevenson-Bisom, junior from West Berlin, NJ, said.
For those wondering about the name, Bubberts is inspired by the long-time Bethel folk legend, Herman Bubbert.
“Herman Bubbert has been known as a fictitious perennial Bethel student, known primarily for campus pranks attributed to him. It is in that spirit that the Bubbert Awards were created: a yearly film festival showcasing the best creative works by the campus community,” Parra said.
Parra is a more recent addition to the Bethel community, so 2019 was her first year experiencing a (pre-COVID) Bubbert Awards ceremony.
“My first year 2019, the Bubberts host took the stage with a series of skits hinting what was to come in the next video. It started with carpool karaoke that ended up with students making it to the show ‘Bubberts’ and then they came from backstage,” Parra said.
Last year, Bubberts had to take place using submitted TikTok videos, which meant that less individuals were able to view the submissions. Bryce Wilson won the competition with “Q.U.A.R.A.N.T.I.N.E.,” a title sequence depicting sibling life during the recently imposed quarantine time.
“This year we are hoping to keep the tradition going. We are thinking maybe outdoors for social distancing purposes or in Memorial Hall. We just have to be creative and keep it safe,” Parra said.
For those looking to enter a Bubberts film this year, the length of the film cannot exceed 6.5 minutes and prizes are awarded for first, second and third place. The films are judged by a panel of judges selected by SAC (Student Activities Council) and will also include a People’s Choice Award, in true film festival fashion.
“It was an opportunity for the student body to get creative, provided a space to put on our best dressed selves, and offered a reprieve from the busy end of the school year,” Stevenson-Bisom said.
