Lumberton resident Cindy Greene has been named director of the 2005 Spindletop/Lamar University Film Festival.

A native of Beaumont, Greene earned an associate of applied science degree in Radiologic Technology from Lamar University in 1995, then returned to Lamar to pursue her passion for filmmaking. In 2003, she received a bachelor's degree in communication with an emphasis in film. While at Lamar, Greene produced “The Dean's Corner,” a cable TV and radio program, as well as a documentary for ExxonMobil titled “Magnolia: A Hundred Years of Oil.” The documentary won Greene several awards in the Golden Triangle and Houston area.

Greene has worked on several short films. She served as associate producer and first assistant director for “Gemini,” a short film from G-Sharp productions. In addition, she is the associate producer and location manager for “Noble Things,” a feature-length film scheduled to shoot in Southeast Texas in 2005.

Greene doesn't just make films, she writes them too. Her drama “Where Butterflies Dance” took first place as best screenplay in Film Expo Texas in 2003.

Spinfest 2005 is scheduled for April 15-17, with a film and video competition deadline of February 12. The film competition offers divisions for beginning and experienced filmmakers. High school and college entries are $15 each and others are $20 each.

“I've been involved with the festival for three years. Moving it from February to April will enable us to grow,” said Greene. “The move will give students more time to work on film projects and will allow the festival staff more time to organize volunteers and publicize the event,” she said.

The festival and its film and video competition, now in its sixth year, involves students from around the United States and Canada. Cash prizes go to the best of show high school film and to the best college film entries.

The best of show college filmmaker will receive the Austin FilmWorks Summer Intensive Greene set to direct film festival Scholarship, a two-week filmmaker workshop valued at $1,400. The workshop will be offered in Houston this summer by award-winning filmmaker Steve Mims. A former film-production professor at the University of Texas, Mims quit his university job in 1993 to start Austin Film Works. Noted director and screenwriter Robert Rodriguez studied under Mims.

The top college film or video entrant also will receive a ticket to the Austin Film Festival, $250 cash, and entry to the Spindletop festival. The top high school entry will receive the Houston Film Commission Prize for Outstanding High School Filmmaker award, a $500 scholarship for a first-year college student to attend Lamar University, a $200 cash prize and entry to the Spindletop festival.

In 2004, the festival screened three Oscar-nominated films and showcased filmmakers from New York to L.A. In addition, the festival featured the Oscar-nominated documentary “Spellbound." Its producer, Sean Welch, lead a panel discussion and attended a screening of the film with Texan Angela Arenivar, who was highlighted in the documentary.

“The Spindletop/Lamar University Film Festival is going to have even more films and events in 2005. We are looking for an outstanding attendance and believe the festival can continue to grow with more community support. People are always looking for something new and exciting to do in this area, and we intend to give them just that” said Greene.

The film festival is funded in part by the City of Beaumont and the Texas Commission on the Arts through the Southeast Texas Arts Council. Film festival board members include Robert Fong and O’Brien Stanley of Groves, Brian Sattler of Bridge City, Gordon Williams of Cleveland and Chris Castillo of Beaumont.

For more information, call (409) 880-7222 or (409) 880-8038 and visit www.spinfest.org.