Professor of Theater — and filmmaker — Paul Kuritz. Photograph by Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College.

A short film directed by Bates Professor of Theater Paul Kuritz will premiere at the college at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, in Room 104 of the Olin Arts Center, 75 Russell St.

Amy’s Wish is Kuritz’s adaptation of James Caputo’s award-winning short play with that title. The film recounts the story of a young girl facing her father’s terminal illness and encountering a professional mourner at a local funeral parlor.

The screening is open to the public at no cost. For more information, please contact 207-786-6257 or pkuritz@bates.edu.

Amy’s Wish has been selected to appear at the 2012 Midwest Christian-Inspirational Indie Film Festival, in Chicago Sept. 28-30; Kingdomwood Christian Film Festival, in Atlanta Oct. 5-7; and the Gideon’s Flame Christian Film Festival in Manila, the Philippines.

Performers in the film include Britt Davis, a member of the Bates class of 2014 from Chicago; and Cheryl Reynolds of Portland, an actress familiar to local audiences.

Robert Little of Auburn, who graduated from Bates in May, served as cinematographer on the production, while senior Cherelle Conner of Miami edited the film.

Location shooting was done at Lewiston’s historic Albert and Burpee Funeral Home.