Grand Canyon University Film Chair Lisa Tervo told students before attending the recent Sundance Film Festival that they would get out of Sundance what they put into it.
Eleven students didn't waste the opportunity.
After winning College of Arts and Media’s fall Film Festival and spring PitchFest, they earned the chance to be part of an event aspiring filmmakers dream of in Park City, Utah, thanks to sponsorship from the Bridges/Larson Foundation.
“I didn’t know what Sundance was until last year,” senior Aldric Galicia said. “They brought people to Sundance last year and I thought, ‘I want to be one of those people that go.’ The opportunity meant a lot.
“I was mesmerized by the amount of filmmakers and the community you can feel when you are over there.”
The weeklong trip allowed students to immerse themselves in the film world, attending film screenings, networking with established filmmakers and engaging in question-and-answer sessions with directors and producers.
The event was bursting with information on how to manage the competitive industry.
“Something I took away from this is the films that were praised the highest, that everyone walked away from not being able to forget, were the ones that could connect with anyone,” Annaleigh Niedzielski, a 2024 film graduate. “Filmmaking is an art, and you want art to resonate with everyone in some way.”
From mysteries and thrillers to romance and comedy, students were exposed to a variety of films and the skills it takes to write them and bring them to life.
Sundance also had an additional GCU flavor with its Windrider Summit, a Christian Sundance sponsor co-founded by College of Arts and Media Dean Dr. Craig Detweiler, which held workshops and information sessions specifically for college-age students.
Windrider’s mission is to approach films from a Christian perspective and encourage Christian filmmakers to create ways to continuously collaborate with those of different beliefs, Tervo said. They want to show students how to work with professionals from different backgrounds and learn about different cultures so that they can better serve Christ.
“Film is a community where you are showing your own passions and heart, and I learned I have to branch out more,” Galicia said. “They taught us to see how you can connect with new people because we can all help each other in some ways.”
The power of networking was heavily emphasized to students. Talent, skill and passion are crucial in producing valuable film, but having connections in the industry that are knowledgeable about powerful platforms to showcase that work is just as crucial.
Those connections could be established in unexpected ways, and senior Kennedy Beckius learned this first-hand.
“I was in line for a screening and suddenly felt very nauseous,” Beckius said. “I had to leave and as I turned in panic, I ran into this lady who asked if she could help me find a medic. As we were waiting for a medic, I told her I was with GCU and immediately she said, ‘Oh, you are Craig Detweiler’s student. We went to high school together and reunited six years ago at Sundance.’
“Talk about connections and the people you meet in unexpected ways, but it doesn’t stop there. We continued talking and it turned out she was a Sundance board member who has been on Wall Street, runs Adobe Ignite program, a networking experience for film students, and has executive produced so many films.”
The annual festival surprised students with unique possibilities to meet film professionals outside of scheduled sessions and challenged them to push themselves outside of their comfort zones.
“At this time of the year, everyone is in Park City for Sundance,” Tervo said. “Chances are when you are waiting in line for coffee, the person in front of you loves movies or is in the industry, so I told my students to not be shy while waiting in line to start a conversation.
“It was awesome to see them immediately embrace it, jump in and take advantage of the opportunities.”
GCU staff writer Izabela Fogarasi can be reached at Izabela.Fogarasi@gcu.edu
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