School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) students are finding audiences around the world as their films earn selections and awards at respected festivals, reflecting the creativity, ambition and dedication of the school’s emerging filmmakers.
As Director of Outreach and Industry, Kerryn Negus leads TFTV’s festival strategy, working individually with filmmakers to develop customized campaigns for each project. From identifying the festivals most likely to champion a film and cultivating relationships with programmers to advising on marketing materials and preparing students to engage professionally with audiences and industry representatives, Negus helps emerging filmmakers navigate a landscape many are encountering for the first time.
“Watching students grow into confident creative professionals is one of the most rewarding parts of my role,” said Negus. “Festival experiences give them the opportunity to share their stories with audiences, engage in conversations about their work and begin building industry relationships that continue long after the credits roll. Seeing that transformation from student filmmaker to emerging industry professional is incredibly fulfilling.”
The impact of that work is reflected in the regular number of TFTV student films earning recognition at prestigious events. This year, 32 films screened at major festivals, including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest and the San Diego International Children’s Film Festival at Comic-Con, among others.
Bennett Curran’s “California is Burning” has earned five festival selections to date, including a Best Student Film award at the Oceanside International Film Festival. At the Academy Award-qualifying Palm Springs International ShortFest, Curran’s film received a Special Jury Mention for Best Student Documentary and was one of just six documentaries selected for the festival’s Best of Fest program from more than 7,000 submissions. The film is next headed to Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival following a direct invitation from the festival’s executive director.
David J. Aberle has been one of this year’s most prolific festival filmmakers, with three films – “Death Mask,” “Finding Fire” and “They Wait” – earning selections at more than a dozen festivals combined. “Finding Fire” screened at nine festivals and earned two awards at the Alpine International Film Festival, including Best Short Film and Best Cinematography. Aberle’s thesis film, “They Wait,” has just begun its festival run, with submissions under consideration by multiple programming teams and early selections already secured.
Jordan Fouts and Amanda Garabedian‘s “Active Imagination” connected with young audiences at high-profile children’s film festivals from Boston to San Diego.
Beyond traditional festival venues, TFTV filmmakers have built a strong presence at Comic-Con International through the San Diego International Children’s Film Festival. “Active Imagination” was the latest TFTV student film to screen for Comic-Con audiences, giving Fouts and Garabedian the opportunity to present their work on a major public stage and experience the impact of connecting with audiences beyond the classroom.
Xander Maniece’s thesis film “The World We Live” In and Alek Mendez’s junior film “Quédate Un Rato” impressed judges at the Mometu College Film Festival, earning awards for Best Potential Series Pilot and Best Foreign Language Film, respectively. Both films were also selected for a special industry screening in Los Angeles.
- TFTV named to Variety‘s 2026 Education Impact Report
- TFTV ranked No. 4 public film school by The Wrap
TFTV student film festival selections in 2025/26
Death Mask by David J. Aberle
- Los Angeles Skins Film Festival 2025
- Sioux City International Film Festival 2025
- NatiVisions Film Festival 2025
- Arizona Underground Film Festival 2025
- Mometu College Film Festival 2025
- Gallup Film Festival 2025
- Nogales International Film Fest 2025
Finding Fire by David J. Aberle
- Athens International Film Festival 2025
- Alpine International Film Festival 2025 (Winner: Best Short Film, Best Cinematography)
- Global Indie Filmmaker Awards 2025 (Winner: Best Student Film)
- Goddess on the Throne Film Festival 2025
- Golden Isles Film Festival 2025
- Digital Griffix Film Awards 2025 (Winner: Best Narrative Short, Best Director)
- Sustain Film Festival (UK) 2025
- FFTG Awards Film Fest 2025
- Himdag Ki: Native Film Festival 2025
- Arizona Underground Film Festival 2025 and 2026
- Nogales International Film Festival 2025 and 2026
- Phoenix Film Festival 2026
They Wait by David J. Aberle
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
- Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival 2026
They Wait (Screenplay) by David J. Aberle
- Tokyo Horror Film Festival 2026
- Horrors Film Festival 2026
- Independent Horror Movie Awards (Best Short Horror Script) 2026
- 13Horror.com Film and Screenplay Contest (Finalist) 2026
- Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Awards (Quarter Finalist) 2026
- Frights! Camera! Action! Horror Screenplay Contest (Honorable mention) 2026
Saving Clementine by Steven Saldaña and David J. Aberle
- Tucson Film Festival 2025
Remember Our Legacy by Sarah Astrowsky
- Sioux City International Film Festival 2025
- Hot Springs InternationalWomen’s Film Festival 2025
- Hollywood Best Indie Film Awards 2025
- Synergy Film Festival 2025
- Mometu College Film Festival 2025
When the World Went Quiet by Olivia Barnes
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
A Tale Most Fowl by Elias Rice Bensch
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
Wild Wasteland by Jesse Bravo
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
No One Can Hear You for Miles by Allie Cincera
- Loft Film Fest 2025
[your name] HERE by Cailan Compierchio and Bennett Smith
- Austin Comedy Film Festival 2025 (Finalist: Best Comedy Micro Film Award)
- Short Sweet Film Fest 2025
Circling Back by Marley Councilor
- MOMO Film Festival 2025
Vein by Ashley Courter
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
California is Burning by Bennett Curran
- Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2026
- Oceanside International Film Festival 2026 (Winner: Best Student Film)
- Credo 23 Film Festival 2026
- Pasadena International Film Festival 2026
- Phoenix Film Festival 2026
- Palm Springs International Shortfest 2026
- Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival 2026
Active Imagination by Jordan Fouts and Amanda Garabedian
- San Diego International Children’s Film Festival 2025
- Boston International Kids Film Festival 2025
- KIDS FIRST! Film Festival 2025
- Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival 2026
Play Pretend by Jordan Fouts
- Orlando Film Festival 2025
- Mometu College Film Festival 2025
- Arizona International Film Festival 2026
- Flagstaff International Film Festival 2026
Blush’n by Madison Hernandez
- Tucson Film Festival 2025
- Los Angeles International Short Film Festival 2025 (Three Nominations: Best Original Song, Best Women Short, Best Acting Duo)
In the Market by Preston Kersting
- Nogales International Film Fest 2025
Wandered Away by Kat Kones
- Midnight Monster Club Short Film Festival 2026
Synesthesia by Geen Lee
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
The Exchange Rate by Sean Leeman
- Indie Short Fest 2026 (Winner: Outstanding Achievement Award in Sound Editing)
Rebranding Bob by Kaitlyn Liddicoat
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
The World We Live In by Xander Maniece
- Mometu College Film Festival 2025 (Winner: Best Potential Series Pilot)
Quédate Un Rato (Stay A While) by Alek Mendez
- Sioux City International Film Festival 2025
- Mometu College Film Festival 2025 (Winner: Best Foreign Language Film)
- World Culture Film Festival 2025
- Nogales International Film Fest 2025
- Phoenix Film Festival 2025
Kain Tayo (Let’s Eat) by Caroline Rosen
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
- Flagstaff International Film Festival 2026
Smile, Please by Caroline Rosen and Madeline Heinrich
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
Verament by Dara Sam and Abram Romero
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
Face to Face by Lauren Schulman and Nick Strain
- Flagstaff International Film Festival 2026
Pizza Guy Returns by Philip Summers
- Mometu College Film Festival 2025
- Midnight Monster Club Short Film Festival 2026
- Kinda Spoopy Festival 2025
Citizen’s Arrest co-written by Maddy Wertz and Megan Bukovinsky, directed by Maddy Wertz
- Broad Humor Film Festival 2026
Facing Tides by Clinton Willis
- Sioux City International Film Festival 2025
- Tucson Film Festival 2025
- Mometu College Film Festival 2025
- World Culture Film Festival 2025
Be Still, Boone by Clinton Willis
- Nogales International Film Festival 2026
Even Now by Cosmo Brusa Zappellini
- Big Bear Film Festival 2025
- Loft Film Fest 2025