UKY Student Film Festival announces nominees
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 24, 2024) — The University of Kentucky Student Film Festival is returning Friday, April 26.
The event, which starts at 7 p.m. in the Gatton Student Center Worsham Theater, is free and open to the public.
In collaboration with the Office of Student Organizations and Activities, housed in the Office for Student Success, Smart Campus and the Media Depot, the UKY Film Festival celebrates and showcases the creative expression of student filmmakers.
All UK students were eligible to submit a film or media project for consideration.
The submissions are reviewed by a panel of judges composed of local media industry professionals. Awards are sponsored by Courage Media — an award-winning local media production company.
Seven awards will be presented on the night of the festival, and the selected films in each category are:
Best Narrative Film: Awarded to the narrative fiction film with the highest combined judges scores.
- “Love” (Amanda Duvall, College of Fine Arts)
- “The Clique” (Kameron Mullins, Gatton College of Business and Economics)
- “It's a Scream, Baby!” (Jaidynn VanBlijenburgh, College of Fine Arts)
- “Social Influence: (Benjamin Ingram, College of Fine Arts)
- “Holding Box #8” (Luke Stone, College of Communication and Information)
- “COLD ACCORD” (Jordan Williams, College of Communication and Information)
- “Totality” (Greer Givens, College of Fine Arts)
- “The Retreat” (Kate Clark, College of Communication and Information)
- “In Another Universe” (Rachel Graves-Dobson, College of Fine Arts)
- “The Unlucky Ones” (Maxxwel Megibben, College of Fine Arts, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering)
Best Experimental Film: Awarded to the experimental film with the highest combined judges scores.
- “Dancing Circles” (Botshelo Angoma, College of Arts and Sciences)
- “Love Letters to My Family” (Ashleigh Jones, College of Fine Arts)
- “UNTITLED 4” (Spencer Lamb, College of Fine Arts)
Best Documentary: Awarded to the documentary film with the highest combined judges scores.
- “Bring it On: Competing for a Cause” (Maria Folio, College of Communication and Information)
- “Coffee Bean” (Karsten VanMeter, Gatton College of Business and Economics)
- “Danielle Hendrix, A Pediatric Cancer Survivor” (Vendela Norris, College of Communication and Information)
Best Animation: The best animated film with the highest combined judge scores.
- “Perfect Day” (Charlotte Lawson, College of Fine Arts)
- “This is working; I am Working” (Angel Varillas, College of Fine Arts)
Best Super Short (new category): The best film of any genre that is less than 60 seconds.
- “All Roads Lead to DanceBlue” (Brooke Berry, College of Arts and Sciences)
- “ScarlettsDot” (Timika Scarlett, Gatton College of Business and Economics)
- “Students React to NCAA Upset” (Giana Gallo, College of Communication and Information)
“Honorable Mention” will be determined by the selection committee, while “Audience Choice” will be selected by the live viewing audience the night of the show.
Immediately following the event, attendees are invited to an after-party and filmmaker meet-and-greet.
You can also view award-winning films from last year at www.ukyfilmfestival.org or on the YouTube channel @ukyfilmfestival.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.