STUDENT FILMS
Departmental film reel to left. Highlight reel from Spring 23 Cinematography I to the right.
Departmental film reel to left. Highlight reel from Spring 23 Cinematography I to the right.
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FICTION
Smoke of the Sea (2019)
Drama by Sam Simonds '19 |
Winner of Connecticut College's Oakes and Louise Ames Prize for Most Outstanding Honors Thesis in 2019.
Bed-ridden with an undiagnosed illness in Taipei, Ya-Ting must face her greatest fears in a journey through the world of the Amis Ancestors while also recalling Amis knowledges. Director's Note: Smoke of the Sea is a narrative fiction film based off of the 28 year-old, Hsu Shuo-Man's, experiences growing up in the Amis Tribe of Dulan Taiwan, following her journey in and out of the Ancestor world during a long period of illness. The film integrates Shuo-Man's story with fears brought forth by Amis elders that the youth are not learning how to speak Amis and are growing increasingly distant from Amis culture. The Hakka scholar on Amis indigeneity, Futuru Tsai, lives in Dulan and was instrumental in guiding the research and development of the project. Others in the community like Hsu Shuo-Man, Siki Sufin, and Chen Shu-Hua (all acting in the film), played a critical role in story development. The story and the film would not have come together without these amazing voices. |
The Meteor (2018)
Sci-Fi/Thriller by Carson Bloomquist '18 and Charlie Losiewicz '19 |
Two friends chasing fallen meteors during a mysterious shower find themselves running for their lives from a vicious monster through the twisted labyrinth of an abandoned fort.
Directors' note: The Meteor is a product of Charlie's love for thrillers, and Carson's passion for horror. Our goal was to make a film that pulls you in from the start, and doesn't let up for 8 minutes. On top of this, we set out to make a film that gives a platform to a strong female protagonist. We recognize that there is inequity in mainstream film when it comes to marginalized voices being heard, and as students/fans/scholars of this art form we seek to change that idea. Much of our focus went into giving the character of Halley Scott autonomy through editing and cinematography. The end result is a fast paced story with a strong female hero. Contact: Carson Bloomquist at [email protected]/www.carsonbloomquist.com Charlie Losiewicz at [email protected]/www.CharlieLosiewicz.org Trinity Film Festival, Hartford, CT. Winner- Best Editing Alternative Film Festival, Toronto, CAN. Winner- Best Horror Short Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival, Warsaw, POL. Winner- Best Student Film European Cinematography Awards, Moscow, RUS. Nominee- Best Student film Official Selections - End Of Days Festival, Longwood, FL. Austin Spotlight Film Festival, Austin, TX. Red Corner Film Festival, Malta. Midwest Horror Fest, Horror, Sci-Fi, & Grind House Films, Logansport, IN. Twin Tiers Film Festival, Norwich, NY. Mystic Film Festival, Mystic, CT. Southeast Michigan Film Festival, Dearborn, MI. |
META (2017)
Psychological thriller/puzzle film by Connor Gowland '17 and Charlie Losiewicz '19 |
On the brink of a psychological breakthrough, two researchers discover a way to manipulate the past.
Directors' note: We love the puzzle film because it forces audiences to be active, to re-watch the film in order to wrap their heads around it. Our goal was to do it in a unique way. Shane Carruth’s Primer was our biggest influence, with cinematic similarities such as the yellow and green color palettes, as well as the use of witty scientific jargon. To us, the most important difference between Meta and many other puzzle films is in its gender representation. The puzzle film commonly deems women as “crazy” or “emotional”, resulting in unreliable female characters. Our goal was to empower our female protagonist through writing, directing and editing. We gave Andie more screen time to control the shots and to motivate the edits. We emphasized Andie’s internal psychology so that audiences would identify with her rather than stare at her. Throughout the 15+ script rewrites, the weekends of shooting, and the countless hours in the editing room, we found ourselves saying “This would be a good way to go plot-wise... but it'll destroy the politics.” In the end, navigating the balance of plot and politics helped us think outside the box to tell an original story that we are proud to share with the world. Contact: [email protected], [email protected] Alternative Film Festival. Toronto, CAN. Finalist best sci-fi/futuristic short Official Selection: Underground Film fest, München, GER. 2018 Official Selection: Underground Film Fest Sci Fi. |
The Groundsmen (2016)
Drama by Trey Chapman '16 and George Scarles '15 |
Searching to refuel their stranded dirt bikes, two brothers discover a mansion hidden in the forest.
Director's note: The concept of The Groundsmen was inspired by a weekend I spent visiting the shoot location. I tried to let my experience of discovering the abandoned mansion and surrounding coal town tell me a story, and in that process I felt the location communicate a sense of history, foreboding, and danger. I focused on emulating such an atmosphere through the narrative and cinematography, and hope that the audience will also feel the heavy darkness of a place that has been worn down by the extraction of natural resources. My favorite scene to watch is the climax - you’ll know it’s coming when you hear the music. Contact: [email protected], https://vimeo.com/treychapman Official Selection New Filmmakers Film Festival, New York, NY. Featured on Film Shortage, Pick of the Day |
In Ten Years (2017)
Action/Thriller by Jonathan Goodnow '18 and Sam Simonds '19 |
Kato fights a xenophobic gang of humans in an epic mission to save his brother's life.
Directors' note: We based our style off the action/thriller films of Alfred Hitchcock, particularly where we use dolly zooms to build suspense, as well as Doug Liman, the director of The Bourne Identity, who uses constant camera movement to quickly progress through the narrative. We wanted to take these styles and craft a narrative that raises questions about the treatment of marginalized and othered groups in the United States, as well as challenge the idea of what it means to be a man. We hope that after watching the film the audience can look at themselves and ask, am I as accepting as I think I am? We are particularly fond of the slower moments. The moving camera allowed these moments to maintain the upbeat energy that flows throughout the film, while not rushing to get to the end of the scene. Contact: [email protected], [email protected] Reel to Real Global Youth Film Festival. Los Angelas, CA. Winner - Best Action Los Angeles Cinefest. Los Angeles, CA. Semifinalist Official Selection: Our Voices Film Festival. Vancouver, CAN. Official Selection: Hollywood Screening Film Festival. Santa Monica, CA. |
The Babysitter (2017)
Horror by Carson Bloomquist '18 and Hayley Smith '17 |
A babysitter's night is disturbed when a masked figure puts her and the child's life in danger.
Directors' note: This film is specific to the horror sub-genre I love most: the slasher. I think the film encapsulates the styles of John Carpenter's Halloween and Wes Craven's Scream, while still bringing something new and exciting to the table. I think horror has a special way of engaging the audience in a way that no other genre can. With The Babysitter, my goal is to put viewers on a ride from the get-go that does not let up until the credits roll. In doing so, I want to maintain the spirit of classic slasher-horror movies while at the same time putting my own unique stamp on. The Babysitter is the type of movie I'd like to watch as a movie fan, and I hope viewers feel that passion when they see it too. Contact: [email protected], https://vimeo.com/carsonbloomquist, [email protected] Official Selection: Indie Horror Film Festival. DeKalb, IL. Fake Flesh Film Fest, Kamloops, British Columbia. 2017. |
XXX M.D. (2016)
Horror by Marialyse Martiney '16 and Sean Lee '18 |
A group of amateur porn filmmakers break into an abandoned hospital where they are hunted by a doctor with a thing for eyes.
Directors' note: The infrared found footage horror style was mostly unexplored in the history of filmmaking at the College and we wanted to pursue something unique. However, we were both very new to the genre and method and as a result we were mostly learning on the go. We think that our naivete of and to the genre allowed us to bring a surprising tone and approach as the lighthearted comedy breaks down into one of pure terror. Contact: [email protected], [email protected] |
DOCUMENTARY
Eleven Years (2015)
Documentary by Paul Luba '16 and Maddy Harris '16 |
A wife’s journey caring for her husband suffering from Dementia proves how powerful love can remain in times of hardship.
Directors' note: At first, this project was about providing a closer look at how Dementia affects familial relationships. After we found our subjects, however, we were so inspired that we changed the focus to their story of how this horrendous disease has challenged their marriage. We thank Tina for opening her heart and home to us, and for exposing a vulnerability that we believed was important to communicate to viewers. The undying love that Tina and Bob shared truly touched us in a way that we hoped was conveyed through the film. Contact: [email protected], [email protected] Finalist - US Hollywood International Film Festival Official Selection - Trinity Film Festival. Hartford, CT Official Selection - New Haven Documentary Film Festival. New Haven, CT |
Sister (2014)
Personal documentary by Andie Pratt '17 |
A personal documentary exploring autism and my relationship with my brother.
Director's note: My life wasn't the same as my peers since my brother has severe autism. It was difficult to talk about. I made this film to show audiences what my day-to-day home life was like growing up and to show that while my brother and I face our challenges, we are able to overcome them with love and understanding. Contact: [email protected] Winner – 3rd Place, Trinity Film Festival. Hartford, CT. |
EXPERIMENTAL
Inside Voice (2016)
Experimental (silent) by Jillian Noyes '19 |
"Look into my thoughts... Listen to my story..." A meditation on mental illness, insecurity, and hope.
Director's note: Inside Voice transmutes personal struggles into a visceral experience with universal themes. To me, the appeal of experimental cinema is the absolute freedom it provides. Inside Voice presents me an unique opportunity to speak directly to the audience without risking the didacticism which so often plagues classical narratives on aneurotypicality. To that end, the film combines the autobiographical storytelling of Su Friedrich with the raw kinetic energy of Stan Brakhage's "painter films" to create a wholly unique aesthetic made possible by 21st-century post-production techniques. As kaleidoscopic overlays and vivid color exposures intermingle with the handwritten notes of an unseen narrator, I hope that audiences are gripped by a sense of paranoia and insecurity. Only when the audience “breaks through” the turmoil and embraces their struggles does the barrage of images retreat in the face of self-love, serenity, and ultimately hope. Contact: [email protected] Ocean City Film Festival. Ocean City, MD. Mosaic World Film Festival. Rockford, IL. FAM Fest International Film Festival. Rock Hill, SC. WINNER - Best Experimental |
Palindrome (2016)
Experimental (silent) by Connor Gowland '17 |
An experimental passage in the past.
Director's note: Palindrome, though directed by a queer male, explores the subconscious desires of a woman who has fallen victim to the pressure and stigma of the hetero-normative culture she lives in. Inspired by the great work of experimental filmmaker Maya Deren, Palindrome aims to explore the power of regret, and how desire does not dissipate with neglect. Contact: [email protected] |
Rust (2014)
Experimental by Elaine Frost '14 and Tom Janick '16 |
Recent student work selected by film festivals
Those Who Don't (2024) by Yasmine Tome '24 & Ryan Rivera '25
IndieFEST Film Awards, La Jolla, CA Winner - Best Latin/Hispanic Theme (Student) Indie House, Barcelona, Spain Winner - Best Student film Lost River Film Fest, San Marcos, TX First-Time Filmmaker Sessions by Lift-Off Global Network, Pinewood Studios, UK KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, Santa Fe, NM American Golden Picture International Film Festival, Jacksonville, FL International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival, Brooklyn, NY Could've (2023) by Timothy Friend '24 & Sophie Gould '25 British University International Students Film Festival, Cairo, Egypt Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Student Video Contest, New York, NY Duemila30, Milan, Italy Honorable Mention American Golden Picture International Film Festival, Jacksonville, FL Honorable Mention Best Student Film Gothamite Monthly Film Awards, New York, NY Winner - Best Student Documentary of the Month Lift Off First Time Filmmaker Festival, Pinewood Studios, UK Fever Dream (2022) by Timothy Friend '24 & Leila Hernandez-Webster '24 Pinewood Studios First Time Filmmaker Session. Iver, UK Coliseum International Film Festival, Rome, Italy Banana Boy (2022) by Jimmy Cork '22 & Tyler Silbey '22 Texas Short Film Festival. San Antonio, TX Nominated- Best Comedy Film Georgia Comedy Film Festival. Atlanta, GA Winner- Best Comedy Film, Nominated- Best Actor Seattle Film Festival. Seattle, WA How to Tie a Tie (2021) by Jimmy Cork '22 Yule Film Festival. Hartford, CT. Winner - Best Student Short Shorts and to the Point Regional Indie Afternoon. Brookfield, CT Trinity Film Festival. Hartford, CT Vegas Shorts Film Festival. Las Vegas, NV Miami Indie Film Awards. Miami, FL Mystic Film Festival. Mystic, CT Winner - Best Student Screenplay Bridgeport Film Festival. Bridgeport, CT Treasure Coast International Film Festival. Port St. Lucie, FL First Place- International Student Film Competition Charlotte Film Festival. Charlotte, NC Norwalk Film Festival. Norwalk, CT Turning Leaves (2021) by Bri Goolsby '22 & James Nalle '23 Black Feedback Film Festival. Los Angeles, CA Today's Paper, Yesterday's News (2021) by Jenna Kramer '22 Mystic Film Festival, Mystic CT Hidden (2019) by Alex Bernardo ’20 & Mikayla Waterhouse ‘20 Mystic Film Festival. Mystic, CT Winner - Audience Choice Award Miami Independent Film Festival. Miami, FL Peel (2018) by Luca Guo ‘19 Moviate Film Festival. Harrisburg, PA The Meteor (2017) by Carson Bloomquist ’18 and Charlie Losiewicz ‘19 Midwest Horror Fest, Horror, Sci-Fi, & Grind House Films, Logansport, IN. Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival, Warsaw, POL. Winner- Best Student Film European Cinematography Awards, Moscow, RUS. Nominee- Best Student film Twin Tiers Film Festival, Norwich, NY. Trinity Film Festival. Hartford, CT. Winner – Best Editing End of Days Film Festival. Orlando, FL Alternative Film Festival. Toronto, CAN. Winner – Best Horror Red Corner Film Festival. Cochecton, NY Austin Spotlight Film Festival. Austin, TX Mystic Film Festival, Mystic, CT. Southeast Michigan Film Festival, Dearborn, MI. Life in Ab Minor (2017) by Jillian Noyes ’19 and Andie Pratt ‘17 Bluenose Ability Film Festival. Nova Scotia, CAN. Azalea Film Festival. Mobile, AL. The Babysitter (2017) by Hayley Smith '18 and Carson Bloomquist '18 Indie Horror Film Festival. DeKalb, IL. Fake Flesh Film Fest, Kamloops, British Columbia. Fishers Re-up (2017) by Jonathan Goodnow ’18 and Daryl Brown ‘18 LA cinefest. Los Angeles, CA. Semifinalist 401 Film Fest, West Warwick, RI. Beatrice Brought Dessert (2016) by Lauren Young '16, Emma Radest '16 Gold Reel Student Film Festival. Charlotte, NC The Monthly Film Festival. Glasgow, UK Los Angeles Cinefest Film Festival. Los Angeles, CA – Finalist Short of the Month. Winner - Best Female Character, Nominated – Best Directors IndieWise Free Virtual Festival YoungFilmmakers. New York, NY Hollywood Screenings Film Festival. Hollywood, CA. Quarterfinalist North Bay Art & Film Festival. San Francisco, CA Top Indie Film Awards. Winner - Best Directors. Nominated - Best Humor Chandler International Film Festival. Chandler, AZ. Winner - Best Women Filmmakers Amarcord Arthouse Television and Video Awards. Chicago, IL New York Film and TV Festival. New York City, NY. Winner – Top Five Short Screenplays Bloodstained Indie Film Festival. Long Beach, CA Bucharest ShortCut CineFest. Bucharest, Romania September Moon (2015) by Kyle Manzione '15, Amanda Kloth '15 International Vampires et Film Arts Festival. Transylvania, Romania. Number 32 (2014) by Linnea Langkammer '14 Raw Science Film Festival. Los Angeles, CA. Winner - Best Student Documentary Watersprite Film Festival. Cambridge, UK Chicago Shorts Film Festival. Chicago, IL. Winner - Best Documentary Docuwest Film Festival. Denver, CO Shnit International Shortfilmfestival. Bern, Switzerland Imagine Science International Film Festival. New York, NY Nevada International Film Festival. Las Vegas, NV Verbal Inhumanity (2014) by Ben Zonon '15 Trinity Film Festival. Hartford, CT. Winner - 2nd Place The Groundsmen (2016) by Trey Chapman '16 FilmShortage.com NewFilmmakers. New York, NY |
Shattered (2024) by Timothy Friend & Leila Hernandez-Webster
Lift Off Filmmaker Sessions, Pinewood Studios, UK International Short Cinema Festival, Murillo, Bolivia Winner- Best Short Film & Best Screenplay Coliseum International Film Festival, Rome, Italy Muddy Waters: Road to Recovery (2023) by Ryan Rivera '25 & Bela Paião '25 Flint Youth Film Festival, Flint, MI Winner - Best 19-21 Non-Fiction and Craft Directing Centrally Isolated Film Festival, Ithaca, NY Filmmaker Sessions By Lift Off Global Network, Pinewood Studios, UK Effigy (2023) by Timothy Friend '24 & Ian Hopkins '25 Coliseum International Film Festival, Rome, Italy Clarence Cuts Loose (2021) by Jimmy Cork '22 & Tyler Silbey '22 Reno Comedy Film Festival. Reno, NV Texas Short Film Festival. San Antonio, TX Winner - Best Director Oregon Short Film Festival. Portland, OR Nominated - Best Comedy Film Portland Comedy Film Festival. Portland, OR Nominated - Best Comedy Film Austin Comedy Film Festival. Austin, TX Nominated- Most Original Idea NJ International Short Film Festival. Colonia, NJ Winner - Best Supporting Actor Newark Short Film Awards. Newark, NJ Houston Comedy Film Festival. Houston, TX Nominated - Best Actor Treasure Coast International Film Festival. Port St. Lucie, FL Shackles (2021) by Thomas Awender '22 & Joshua Estrada '23 New York Movie Awards, New York, NY Honorable Mention Horror Realm, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Hollywood Gold Awards. Los Angeles, CA Oregon Screams Horror Film Festival. Portland, OR The Thing in The Basement Horror Festival. Bremerton, WA West Coast Movie Awards. Online festival FELACOS Film Festival. Santiago, Chile Xicanindie Film Festival. Denver, CO Upstate New York Film Festival. Williamsville, NY Smoke of the Sea (2019) by Sam Simonds ‘19 Amis Music Festival. Dulan, Taiwan Connecticut College, New London, CT Oakes and Louise Ames Prize for Outstanding Honors Study Second Helping (2019) by Anna Guttmacher ’19 & Morgan Grant ‘20 Mystic Film Festival. Mystic, CT China White (2019) by Zack Bermack ’20 & Jack Pacilio ‘20 Mystic Film Festival. Mystic, CT First Time Filmmaker Sessions. Pinewood Studios, UK New York Cinematography Awards. New York, NY. Semi-Finalist Alternative Film Festival. Toronto, CAN. Semi-Finalist - Best Suspense/Mystery/Thriller Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival. Moscow, RUS Semi-Finalist Alternative Film Festival. Toronoto, CAN Semi-Finalist Los Angeles Cinefest. Los Angeles, CA Semi-Finalist From a Valley of Talol (2017) by Sam Simonds ‘19 Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival. Reading Film Festival. Reading, PA. Winner - Best Student Documentary Queen City Film Festival. Cumberland, MD Winner - Best Documentary Flathead Lake International Cinemafest, Nominee - Best Picture under 22 META (2017) by Connor Gowland '17 and Charlie Losiewicz '19 Alternative Film Festival, Toronto - Finalist best sci-fi/futuristic short Underground Film Fest Sci Fi Underground Film fest, München, GER. 2018 The Vulture (2017) by Christian Vazquez '19 and Jillian Noyes '19 Austin Action Fest. Austin, TX. In Ten Years (2017) by Jonathan Goodnow '18 and Sam Simonds '19 Reel to Real Global Youth Film Festival. Los Angelas, CA. Winner - Best Action Los Angeles Cinefest. Los Angeles, CA. Semifinalist Our Voices Film Festival. Vancouver, CAN. Hollywood Screening Film Festival. Santa Monica, CA. prism (2016) by Jillian Noyes '19 Eye Myth Film Festival. Toronto, CAN. Inside Voice (2016) by Jillian Noyes '19 Ocean City Film Festival. Ocean City, MD. Mosaic World Film Festival. Rockford, IL. FAM Fest International Film Festival. Rock Hill, SC. WINNER - Best Experimental Synthesis (2016) Hallie Cohen '17, Cooper Nefsky '17 City of Tustin Film Festival. Tustin, CA Los Angeles CineFest. Los Angeles, CA Direct Online Monthly Film Festival Direct Short Online Film Festival Sister (2014) by Amanda Pratt '17 Trinity Film Festival. Hartford, CT. Winner – 3rd Place Places (2015) by Emma Radest '16, Josefin Karjel '17 Los Angeles Cinefest Film Festival. Los Angeles, CA Eleven Years (2015) by Paul Luba '16, Maddy Harris '16 Trinity Film Festival. Hartford, CT New Haven Documentary Film Festival. New Haven, CT Golden Film Awards - US Hollywood International FF. Hollywood, CA. Finalist With Time (2015) by Ellen Heuer '17, Katherine Lipman '16 Trinity Film Festival. Hartford, CT Adam (2015) by Trey Chapman '16, George Scarles '15 Student Filmmaker Awards. International Online Festival Re-written Ending (2015) by Lauren Young '16, Hallie Cohen '17 The Monthly Film Festival. Glasgow, UK The Online Film Festival. International Online Festival YoungFilmmakers New York Film Festival. New York, NY |