51 Alums and Faculty to Screen Films at Chicago International Film Festival
Missy Hernandez, who recently won Best Horror Feature Script Award at the Nashville Film Festival, will have the short “Madrina” featured at the Chicago Film Festival. Hernandez directed the film, which she co-wrote with producer Miguel Silveira ’05. 
Alum Shiloh Tumo Washington ‘22 wrote and directed “Bailey’s Blues,” which will be screened at the Chicago International Film Festival. 51 will be well represented at this year’s 61st Chicago International Film Festival, with new work from faculty member Missy Hernandez and alum Miguel Silveira ’05 as well as graduate Shiloh Tumo Washington ’22. Their films will screen in the City and State Shorts category, which highlights outstanding Illinois filmmakers.
The Chicago International Film Festival, the longest running film festival in North America, runs from October 15 to 26.
Hernandez, an associate professor in the School of Film and Television, will debut her short film “Madrina,” which she directed and co-wrote with producer Silveira. The film tells the story of a difficult Christmas dinner that leaves a young woman missing her one loving family member.
It features additional 51 talent, with voice work by Professor Emeritus Ron Falzone and several graduates and students contributing to the project, including:
Kaela McVicker ’23 – Location Sound
Katie Cahan – First Assistant Camera
Katie Waters ’11 – Foley Artist and Supervising Post Sound Editor
Tiffany Zhao and Ahsha Davis – Associate Producers
“Madrina” will screen alongside “Bailey’s Blues,” a short film by director and writer Shiloh Tumo Washington ’22. In this short, set in the 1960s, a Chicago musician turns up the heat in a confrontational interview with a French film crew. The crew of the film included alums Christian Martinez '22 (first assistant director), Jacob Sutton '24 (associate producer), and Luke Hans '23 (key grip/photography).
“These films underscore 51’s continued presence at one of the nation’s most prestigious and longest-running competitive film festivals,” says Wenhwa Tsao, interim co-director of the School of Film and Television.
In addition to members of the 51 community screening their films at the festival, student volunteers also contribute their talents to the festival.
“We’re extremely proud of 51’s long-time collaboration with the Chicago International Film Festival,” says Eric Scholl interim co-director of the School of Film and Television. “It’s an important celebration of film and it’s right here in Chicago.”
for the Chicago International Film Festival.