Wichita State University Theatre program's first full-length feature film, "After Midnight," won second place for Best Film Crew/Student Feature at the Bare Bones International Independent Film and Music Festival, which took place April 10-18 in Muskogee, Okla.

"After Midnight" can be viewed on the WSU Theatre YouTube channel: goo.gl/901SUr.

The film follows Chase, a film student, and a group of his friends as they search their college campus for a copy of a famous silent movie – Lon Chaney’s “London After Midnight.” When they find a connection to a film society that used to show films on campus, the friends track the old film to a storage vault, where they’re apprehended by police and all turn on Chase. In searching for the lost film, the filmmakers instead uncover a traitor in their midst and solve an old murder.

With sponsorship from Performing Arts Angels – a support group that raises money to provide opportunities for students in the School of Performing Arts – several theater students were able to attend the festival and were present for the film showing and discussion that followed.

“After Midnight” was written and directed by WSU Director of Theatre Bret Jones and features theater and musical theater students as well as alumni Robert Thomas, Kyle Dilley, Ashley Parton, Trevor Comstock, Hannah See, J. Bailey Burcham and Caleb Coffman, with casting by alumna Claire Gerig.

Bare Bones International Independent Film and Music Festival honors independent motion picture projects around the world. It has been recognized as one of the “20 best festivals for new and emerging filmmakers.” Bare Bones was named a top top 20 documentary festival by PBS. Bare Bones features narrative and documentary features, short documentary, short narrative and student films, music videos, animation and live screenplay readings in its competitive program.

For more information about the film or the WSU Theatre program, contact Jones at 316-978-3646 or bret.jones@wichita.edu. For information on other programs in the School of Performing Arts, contact Linda Starkey, director, at 316-978-3368 or linda.starkey@wichita.edu.