CANTON -- St. Lawrence University is participating in the first St. Lawrence International Film Festival as a Community Alliance partner and sponsor of the Best Student Film Award.

The festival takes place on both sides of the St. Lawrence River from Oct. 22 to 25.

With the theme “Beyond Borders,” the debut festival will present films from all over the world to screen at five different venues and will feature more than 60 screenings with over 25 features, five shorts programs and live performances in Canton, Potsdam, Ottawa and Brockville. One of the screens at the American Theatre in Canton will be named “Laurentian Theater: Sponsored by St. Lawrence University.”

Thanks to an anonymous donation, students attending any of the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley – Clarkson University, SUNY Canton, SUNY Potsdam and St. Lawrence University – can attend any of the showings showing in Brockville, Canton and Potsdam for free with a valid student identification.

Directing what he called a surreal horror comedy, recent St. Lawrence University graduate James Corbett won the student film competition for St. Lawrence University in May in advance of the film festival. A native of Pittsford, Vermont, Corbett directed “Surreal,” a five-minute short film about a man living in a surreal dream world and who is dealing with the terrifying things that reside there. All college-level winners were invited to compete against each other as Official Student Selections during the festival in October. The final winner will be awarded the Best Student Film award as determined by the festival’s jury of industry professionals.

St. Lawrence University graduate and trustee Sarah Johnson is one of the founding St. Lawrence International Film Festival advisory board members. A partner at Worldview Entertainment and her own Gaia Entertainment, Johnson is the executive producer of the Academy Award nominated “Birdman” (2014), “The Immigrant” (2014) and the Emmy Award winning “The Square” (2013).

A Friday Night Block Party in Canton on Oct. 23 will feature a special cinematic edition of New York City’s multimedia live game show, “The Big Quiz Thing.”

All university faculty and staff are eligible to receive a 20 percent discount off ticket prices by using the code “University20.” Students can use the same discount code for a gala pass.