Guitar music fills Pidgin Palace art gallery in downtown Tucson as the monthly Film Friday Shorts event begins.

The program highlights art produced by local filmmakers and, predominantly, students enrolled at Pima Community College.

Throughout the night, the audience – a community of regular attendees – laughs, applauds and watches an array of artistic films, creating a playful and enthusiastic environment, perfect for aspiring filmmakers seeking experience.

“It’s awesome to have that free open space, and the audiences don’t judge,” said Marcus Shoemore, who has hosted the Film Friday Shorts since it began in September. “They applaud for every film, and I think that’s what we need here, especially for the younger filmmakers.”

Shoemore interacts with the filmmakers during a Q&A after each viewing.

“I talk to the filmmakers — ‘What was the motivation? Why did you do this?’” he said.

The event is an opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to regularly showcase their films, he said, and it has even allowed them to be recruited for larger festivals.

“I have seen at least two or three filmmakers myself take off, and I’ve only been in this for six months,” he said. “I have seen that grow.”

Showcasing these films not only allows students to network with producers, but it also pushes them to reflect on and explore the films they create. 

Sam Scheider, president of Pima Film Club, said he uses the Pidgin Palace events as a “sandbox” for his art.

“I get to sit in the audience and watch my own thing, so it’s really a testing, experimental field for what works and what doesn’t,” he said.

Film Friday Shorts was initially inspired by a similar event held by the Loft Cinema, where filmmakers competed for a cash prize. When this was put on hold due to renovations to the building in July 2024, Hayden Snow organized Film Friday Shorts.

He envisioned a filmmaker-focused and feedback-based approach, he said.

“It’s just a great bonding opportunity and a chance to meet other filmmakers, meet other artists, and just share your passion and your art with the world,” he said.

Tomas Antonio Luiza, another filmmaker, said he has since found some of his closest friends by getting involved with First Friday Shorts. 

Showcasing his films here has also inspired authenticity, he said.

“It just really helped me with getting rid of the anxiety. It helped me be who I am,” he said.

During a recent Friday showing, the audience laughed and hollered at the climax of a student-made horror film. 

Pidgin Palace cleared out soon after, but local filmmakers say they know they can return each month to learn, grow and create a community.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.