The University of Notre Dame’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre (FTT) announces the 35th Annual Notre Dame Student Film Festival, in the Browning Cinema at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, January 26-28, 2024.
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 that were made by undergraduate students during the past year as class projects in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre. As in recent years, after each screening audience members will be invited to vote for their favorite film via text message. The Audience Choice Award will be presented to the student director(s) of the winning film after the final screening.
After spending months from concept to completion, more than 20 student directors will premiere over a dozen short films to the public for the first time.
“Filmed all over the country, and right here in South Bend, we are thrilled to present the premiere screenings of these undergraduate student films, many of which will go on to screen at film festivals nationally,” says festival founder and FTT faculty member Ted Mandell.
The festival has featured the first films of future award-winning filmmakers 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. It has served as the springboard for successful careers in every aspect of the industry, where ND Student Film Festival alumni have worked on everything from Saturday Night Live to La La Land.
Many films from past festivals have also been selected for national and international film festivals, including:
Waiting for Buffalo – 2023 Trinity Film Festival (Best Documentary)
Lily – 2023 Chicago/Midwest Emmys (Non-Fiction Short Form Student Production Award)
The Ismailzias – 2022 LA Documentary Short Film Festival (Best Sound & Music, Mar 2022)
Foss – 2022 Angeles Doc Film Festival (Feb. 2022 Best Student Documentary)
SandBranch – 2020 International Social Change Film Festival (Official Selection)
Tape Wizard – 2020 Portland Film Festival (Official Selection)
Shelter Me – 2019 Arizona International Film Festival (Best Short Documentary), 2019 Atlanta ShortsFest Film Festival (Best Documentary Short)
Emma. – 2019 NYC Short Documentary Film Festival (Best Director Award), 2019 Harvard College 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)
Peace at the Pipeline – 2017 San Pedro International Film Festival, 2017 Riverside International Film Festival
2024 Notre Dame Student Film Festival featured films:
Small Parts (Hank McNeil, Aidan O’Malley, JP Spoonmore)
Leggo my Lego.
After The Race (Joyce Fu, Paulina Rey, Claire Schaffler)
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)
A grocery store romance.
The Ballad of Bart (Victoria Dominesey, Ian Oh)
Prison was just the prelude for a Nashville musician.
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.
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.
Three Hands (John Adkins, Chloe Stafford, Margaret Murray)
Four women, one poker game, and the boyfriend upstairs
A Double Shot (Alexx Johnson, Mariana Taskey)
A rosy romance with a whole 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.
April Showers (Micaela Kastor)
It’s hard to wash away the memories.
Confishion (Alexx Johnson, Thomas Larson)
A fish story of biblical proportions...sort of.
TICKETS
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, in person at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center ticket office (M-F, 12:00 – 6:00 pm), or online at performingarts.nd.edu.
SCREENINGS
Friday, January 26 at 6:30 pm
Saturday, January 27 at 6:30 pm
Sunday, January 28 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.
PARKING
Free parking is available daily after 5:00 pm in the Stayer Center parking lot, just north of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Patrons may now receive free event parking at the Eddy Street Commons Parking Garage by bringing your event tickets and parking ticket to the DPAC Ticket Office to receive a pre-paid parking voucher.
An accessible lot for disabled patrons is available immediately adjacent to the center; a valid hangtag or license plate is required. There is a ten-minute parking zone on the north drive of the center for ticket pick-up; during inclement weather you are welcome to drop off guests in this area and proceed to parking.
Notre Dame’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre seeks to inspire intellectual inquiry and nurture creativity. We offer both a scholarly and a creative context for the general liberal arts student at Notre Dame as well as those students seeking intensive preparation for advanced study in these fields. The hands-on nature of our curriculum, coupled with a very high degree of student-faculty interaction, provides students with a singular educational opportunity at a university known for its teaching excellence. The Notre Dame Student Film Festival is a direct outgrowth of the department’s academic program and an integral component of our students’ artistic development.
Find FTT on Facebook and Instagram @NDFTT