Notre Dame Student Film Festival

An annual launching pad for student filmmakers as they begin their careers in the film, television, and entertainment industries, the Notre Dame Student Film Festival screens films made by undergraduate students during the past year as class projects in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre. Founded by Ted Mandell in 1990, the festival has featured the first films of future award winners such as Peter Richardson (2011 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Award winner, How To Die in Oregon) and John Hibey (2012 Sundance Film Jury Award Winner for Short Filmmaking, Fishing Without Nets), as well as numerous others. Writers, producers, editors, executives, many NDSFF alumni are now career professionals at Netflix, Lionsgate, Dreamworks, Industrial Light & Magic, Disney, NBC Universal and numerous other companies.

Since 2013, audience members have been invited to vote for their favorite film via text message, and the Audience Choice Award is presented to the winning filmmaker(s) following the final screening. View past Audience Choice Award winning films here

The Notre Dame Student Film Festival Archive lists all student films presented in the festival since its inception in 1990.

THE 35TH ANNUAL NOTRE DAME STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL
Friday, January 26, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 7:00 pm*
*Audience Choice Award will be presented after the 7:00 pm screening on Sunday, January 28.

Running Time:  Approximately 120 min. Some films contain mature content.

Tickets for the Notre Dame Student Film Festival are $7 for the general public; $6 for faculty, staff, and seniors (65+); and $4 for students. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 574-631-2800 or in person at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center ticket office (M-F, 12:00 – 6:00 pm). Tickets will be available online at performingarts.nd.edu

PBS Michiana WNIT feature on the ND Student Film Festival
Scene Selections: The Best of the 2024 Notre Dame Student Film Festival (The Observer)
Behind The Scenes: Notre Dame's 35th Annual Student Film Festival celebrates the importance of film (The Observer)

FEATURED FILMS

Small Parts (Hank McNeil, Aidan O’Malley, JP Spoonmore)
Leggo my LEGO.

After The Race (Paulina Rey, Claire Schaffler, Joyce Fu)
A one woman non-profit finds homes for retired sled dogs in Alaska.

Nearness of You (Josh Vo)
A college student leaves behind his love on the way to London.

A Dash of Paper & A Pinch of Spice (Joyce Fu, Julian Gamboa)
The perfect recipe for a relationship is in aisle five.

The Ballad of Bart (Victoria Dominesey, Ian Oh)
Prison was just the prelude for a Nashville musician.
Official Selection: 2024 Tennessee International Independent Film Festival

Lost And Not Found (Elizabeth Maroshick, Isabel R Maiz)
You were supposed to come find me.

Bajo El Sol (Micaela Alvarado, Ryan Lin)
An immigrant couple starts a street vending business in Santa Ana, CA.
Official Selection: 2024 Yale Student Film Festival
Official Selection: 2024 Reality Bytes Independent Film Festival

Whispers Of The Keys (Rob Corrato, Patrick Kennedy)
Don’t read your roommates’ research paper.

The Mayor Of Idyllwild (Ben Bailey, Riley Mandell)
The most popular politician in California speaks no words.
Official Selection: Feel The Reel International Film Festival (Jan 2024)
Official Selection: 2024 Riverside International Film Festival

Three Hands (John Adkins, Chloe Stafford, Margaret Murray)
Four women, one poker game, and the boyfriend upstairs.

A Double Shot (Alexx Simone Johnson, Mariana Taskey)
A rosy romance with a latte love.

Island Zero (Ryan Broussard, Josh Sisolak)
The mayor of a tiny island in the Chesapeake Bay tries to keep the town from going under.
WINNER: 2024 Virginia Emerging Filmmakers Festival - Best Documentary
WINNER: 2024 Reality Bytes Independent Film Festival -Best Documentary
Official Selection: 2024 International Wildlife Film Festival
Official Selection: 2024 Yale Student Film Festival

April Showers (Micaela Kastor)
It’s hard to wash away the memories.

Confishion (Alexx Simone Johnson, Thomas Larson) *
A fish story of biblical proportions...sort of.
*Audience Choice Award
Official Selection: 2024 Trinity Film Festival

Many student films from past festivals have also been selected for national and international film festivals, including:

The Ismailzais - 2022 LA Documentary Short Film Festival (Best Sound/Music, Mar'22)
Saving Sister Cindy - 2022 New York City Short Film Festival, 2022 Student Los Angeles Film Awards (semi-finalist)
Foss- 2022 Angeles Doc Film Festival (Best Student Documentary, Feb '22)
Tape Wizard - 2020 Bolton International Film Festival, 2020 Portland Film Festival
Sandbranch - 2020 International Social Change Film Festival
Shelter Me - 2019 Arizona International Film Festival (Best Documentary Short), 2019 USA Film Festival (Jury Award, International Short Film Competition), 2019 Atlanta ShortsFest Film Festival (Best Short Documentary)
Emma. - 2019 NYC Short Documentary Film Festival (Best Director), 2019 Harvard College Film Festival, 2019 Ivy Film Festival, 2019 Oregon Documentary Film Festival
Breaking the Cycle - 2018 New York City Short Film Festival (Best Documentary Short), 2018 USA Film Festival (First Place Non-Fiction short film), 2018 Ivy Film Festival (Best U.S. Undergraduate Documentary) (View Breaking the Cycle)
Respectfully, Tony - 2017 Nevada City Film Festival
Debajo de los árboles (Beneath the Trees) - 2018 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Peace at the Pipeline - 2017 San Pedro International Film Festival, 2017 Riverside International Film Festival
patrolling sandy hook - 2016 USA Film Festival (Winner, Special Jury Award), 2016 DocuWest International Film Festival (Winner, Women Who Doc Award)
Spark of Madness - 2016 Naperville Independent Film Festival (Best Student Film Nominee)
Eat. Ride. Sleep. - 2015 DocuWest International Film Festival, 2015 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Nominee (View Eat. Ride. Sleep.)
Curry & Erin - 2015 Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival (Special Jury Prize, Collegiate Documentary)
The Suicide Disease - 2014 Sunset International Film Festival (Winner, Best Short Documentary)
The Last Free Place - 2014 Anchorage International Film Festival
Project Hopeful - 2012 Re:Image Film Festival (Winner, Best Picture, Collegiate Category)
King of the Park - 2012 CineYouth Film Fest (Winner, Best Comedy, Senior Division)
The Elect - 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival, 2012 Dallas International Film Festival (View The Elect)
Picking Up America - 2011 Ivy Film Festival (Winner, Social Change Award)