The School of Theatre, Film & Television presents the 2024 edition of “What’s Up, Docs?,” our annual showcase of outstanding new short documentaries created by BA and BFA students.
Films that have previously screened at “What’s Up, Docs?” have gone on to garner significant film festival attention. Tatum Sailors‘ short documentary At 7, which made its premiere at the 2022 edition of “What’s Up, Docs?”, has since been officially selected to screen at the Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival, Student World Impact Film Festival, San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival, San Diego Comic Con, Sioux City International Film Festival, Children’s Film Festival of Seattle, and the Academy Award-qualifying Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
This year, watch 13 outstanding new short films exploring topics that are current, newsworthy, poignant, and sublime. Here’s a sample:
- Facing Tides follows TFTV instructor Rick Wamer and his recent project Requiem for a Reef, as he and the ensemble of theatre students work to create an impactful performance about ocean conservation.
- At a Super Smash Bros tournament in the Santa Catalina Foothills, PimpinSpicy and company get “TURNT” while competing in their favorite video game.
- In Death Mask, a Native Exorcist leads a paranormal investigation to release trapped spirits, blending Indigenous rituals and modern techniques to reveal a deeper responsibility in ghost hunting.
- For the Love of the Game follows two Arizona Basketball walk-ons who embody the values of hard work and team spirit, revealing their vital yet often overlooked roles despite limited playing time.
- In Remember Our Legacy four generations of women reflect on the profound impact of the Holocaust on their family and their responsibility to carry on the legacy of their elders.
- Connecting Threads is an intimate exploration of cross-stitching, revealing how what seems like a simple pastime for older women is actually a thread weaving many people together.
The screening is FREE to attend and will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.
Photo Credit: Still from Donovan Heaney and Elias Rice Bensch’s documentary film TURNT.
