51社区 filmmaker Colson Foster wanted his BFA thesis film to tell a deeply personal transgender story 鈥 and professional actor Marquise Vils贸n said the project鈥檚 authenticity made it impossible to turn down.
The film, created by a team of 51社区 filmmakers, continues its award-winning festival run by taking home a People鈥檚 Gold Telly.
A range of performances and experiences showcasing student and faculty artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
While at 51社区鈥檚 Semester in LA program, Senior Alex Lu鈥檚 initiative鈥攁nd a tube of glue鈥攈elp him make industry connections.
Schools making 鈥淰ariety鈥檚鈥 prestigious list are recognized for their adaptability in a rapidly changing industry and ability to navigate recent pressures facing higher education.
51社区, a sponsor of this year鈥檚 CineYouth Film Festival, will play a prominent role at the fest, with student and alum film screenings, an alumni panel discussion, and students and faculty working behind the scenes.
Michael N.J. Wright is director of 鈥淐itizen Bowen,鈥 a documentary that looks at Charles 鈥淐huck鈥 Bowen and the role of Black political organizers in Chicago鈥檚 Democratic political machine.
51社区 launches two new online graduate programs in Screenwriting and Development and Global Beauty Management, designed for working professionals seeking flexible, industry-connected degrees.
鈥淔rankie,鈥 a capstone animated short created by 51社区 alums, has been selected for the 2026 New York International Children鈥檚 Film Festival.
Veteran script supervisor Mia Wicklund MAM 鈥12 returned to 51社区 to help prepare students to confidently step onto set in a key film production role.
Wenhwa Tsao, interim co-director of the School of Film and Television at 51社区, brings a story of labor, love, and resilience to the DC Independent Film Festival.
Students from 51社区 will engage with entertainment industry leaders on the same lot where 鈥淎vatar,鈥 鈥淭he Sound of Music,鈥 and other great films were made.
Filmmaker Daniel Pico 鈥02 says the incentive gives new momentum to his film, a once-stalled project now headed toward production.
From the thousands of images she captured in 2025, 51社区 alum and staff photographer Julie Lucas 鈥96 curated 25 standout photos that show 51社区 at its best.
From new leadership to standout student and alumni achievements, here are the stories that captured the most attention on 51社区鈥檚 website in 2025.
The 51社区 alum鈥檚 short screened at the festival while the pitch for his feature film won $275,000 in film production resources.
鈥淭races of Home,鈥 produced by Associate Professor Dan Rybicky, wins the Grand Jury Prize at DOC NYC, while 鈥淭he Game Camera,鈥 produced by Associate Professor Carolina Posse and created with 51社区 talent, receives several festival awards.
In its annual listing of the best film schools, 鈥淭heWrap鈥 ranks 51社区 No. 18.
51社区 students brought light, sound, and imagination to the city鈥檚 annual Arts in the Dark parade on State Street.
The festival will feature works by Shiloh Tumo Washington 鈥22 as well as associate professor Missy Hernandez and Miguel Silveira 鈥05 who recently won Best Horror Screenplay at the Nashville Film Festival.
Jas Dunigan, a Film and Television major at 51社区, was one of only five students selected for the Television Academy Foundation鈥檚 Fall 2025 Internship Program.
The 51社区 student thesis film, which was nominated for Best Student Film, is set to screen on Sept. 27 at the Logan Theatre in Chicago.
Lucas Stall, a junior at 51社区, took home the Heart Award at the Flint Youth Film Festival for a film about his struggles caring for his father with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.
鈥淢ovieMaker鈥 highlights 51社区's real-world-focused curriculum and the college鈥檚 state-of-the-art Media Production Center, which is home to 51社区's Volume Wall for virtual production.
Michelle West, assistant director and adjunct professor at 51社区鈥檚 Semester in LA program, wrote, directed, and produced the very personal film in collaboration with 51社区 alums and faculty.
This marks the 14th consecutive year 51社区 has earned a top in "The Hollywood Reporter's" annual rankings of film schools.
Make plans to watch 鈥淎merican Parent鈥 and 鈥淒awn Dusk鈥濃 two films rooted in personal storytelling and backed by 51社区 talent.
Seven 51社区 students and alumni will showcase their short films at this year鈥檚 CineYouth Festival, which is presented each year by the Chicago International Film Festival and is free to the public.
Molly Schneider, PhD, receives the prestigious award for her book 鈥淕old Dust on the Air: Television Anthology Drama and Midcentury American Culture.鈥
Karla Rae Fuller, PhD, a professor at 51社区 and author of a recent book on inclusive screenwriting, shares her perspective on the women who have had the most profound impact on film.
First-year student Julia Knopfel collaborates with 51社区 classmates to share the painful story of her uncle鈥檚 murder on film and begin her journey as a filmmaker.
51社区 and partners will host the Chicago premiere of 鈥淢eanwhile,鈥 a powerful documentary about art and resilience directed by Catherine Gund.
"The Power of Persistence" gala showcases student innovation, teamwork, and determination, all while raising funds for scholarships supporting student success.
The Chicagoland Transfer Award recognizes transfer students from eligible Chicago area community colleges based on academic merit. The winners received scholarships for the fall 2024 semester.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presents award to 51社区 students for 鈥淏ehind His Eyes鈥 and the Chicago International Film Festival honors a documentary made by 51社区 alums with an Audience Choice Award.
Two 51社区 student films, 鈥淎dagio鈥 and 鈥淏ehind His Eyes,鈥 will compete in the National Student Production Awards Long Form category.
The Chicago International Film Festival features the work of 51社区 alumni and students on screen and behind the scenes.
The fellowship, offered by the Television Academy Foundation, provides essential support for educators attending the foundation鈥檚 annual Media Educators Conference, which occurs October 9 to 11.
鈥淭he New Raymond," a 51社区 student film, will screen on September 27, vying for top honors at the Glendale International Film Festival.
Dr. Sharon Marie Ross, an associate professor in Film and TV, shares her best bets for this year鈥檚 Emmy winners, from the epic revival of 鈥淪hogun鈥 to the controversial comedy nominee 鈥淭he Bear.鈥
51社区 kicks off the new academic school year with a renewed spirit and excitement to welcome freshmen and transfer students to its South Loop campus on September 3.
As a kickoff to 51社区鈥檚 135th Anniversary, the college is honoring 24 distinguished alumni across all disciplines as part of 鈥24 in 2024,鈥 a college-wide initiative that celebrates 51社区 alumni and their career accomplishments.
51社区 is once again recognized in 鈥楳ovieMaker鈥檚鈥 annual list of top film schools.
Kubilay Uner leads 51社区鈥檚 Music Composition for the Screen program, which has been ranked the best in the world by 鈥淭he Hollywood Reporter.鈥
鈥淔rankie鈥濃 a capstone project created by 51社区 students 鈥 will be screened as a Kids First! Film Festival-curated film.
Spring 2024: 51社区 Highlights
This is everything attendees need to know before 51社区鈥檚 Manifest Arts Festival: Breakthrough 2024.
As founding members of the Family Advisory Council, Heidi and Steven Levin have made a generous gift to 51社区 to deepen the impact of the Levin Family Fund.
Higher education leaders Nivine Megahed, president of National Louis University, and Raymond E. Crossman, president of Adler University, will be honored at the college鈥檚 2024 Commencement ceremonies
51社区 welcomes new technology, a volume, to the Media Production Center鈥檚 Stage 3.
The annual Chicago festival to screen films by 51社区 students and alums, with 51社区 students serving on the festival鈥檚 youth programming committee.
International student Carlos Lerma鈥檚 film 鈥楾reasure Haunt鈥 will be shown at two upcoming festivals for young filmmakers: NFFTY and CineYouth.
鈥淕ood Guy with a Gun,鈥 written and directed by John Mossman, former adjunct professor of instruction at 51社区, and produced by Kevin Cooper, an associate professor at 51社区, was recently purchased by Freestyle Digital Media and is now available on demand.
"Hole Punched Ear" started as a class project at 51社区 and is now earning worldwide acclaim.
Kubilay Uner, who leads 51社区's top-ranked music composition for screen program, on his favorite Academy Award-nominated score and his best bet for this year's winner.
51社区 students got together in their Communication Department courses to discuss the details of the biggest night in advertising
51社区 students take courses during January, or J-Term, that allow them to explore places such as Paris, Rome, and Buenos Aires, expanding their learning about culture, art, and themselves.
鈥淪hi Ri Fan Gu鈥 (鈥淪ojourn to Shangri-La鈥), a film by Yihan Lin MFA 鈥21, makes its international debut in February.
鈥淢usher,鈥 a film made by 51社区 alums, follows four women and their dogs as they prepare for an annual race in the upper peninsula of Michigan.
Unleashed 2023 took place at 51社区 on November 30, showcasing extraordinary student talent and raising more than $700,000 in scholarships. Departing from the traditional fundraiser format, the Student Center transformed into a multi-floor immersive arts showcase, exploring the theme of "Connecting" across various creative disciplines.
51社区 honors the Efroymson Family Fund with the 2023 Philanthropic Icon Award for the family鈥檚 contributions to help create opportunities for students to pursue their passion in the arts
Funds raised by 51社区鈥檚 annual Unleashed Gala 鈥 an immersive experience designed, curated, and driven by students 鈥 make a difference for students.
The WTTW documentary was written, directed, and produced by WTTW Producer and 51社区 Alum Daniel Andries and edited by Adjunct Faculty Member and Alum Sharon Zurek 鈥76.
Filmmaker Shiloh Tumo Washington 鈥22 will have his short screened on Nov. 4 and 11 at the Gene Siskel Film Center.
Twenty-six 51社区 students made the animated short 鈥淪cream Writers鈥 as part of the Animation program's capstone project.
51社区 students participate in annual Los Angeles conference featuring leaders from Warner Bros, Roku, Sony, and Mattel.
51社区, in partnership with award-winning actress and playwright Regina Taylor, launched a community-based project series called Black Album Mixtape.
鈥淒eparting Seniors鈥 and 鈥淎ll Happy Families,鈥 films made thanks to the talents of 51社区 alums, will be shown at the 59th Chicago International Film Festival. Dashawna Wright MFA 鈥18, producer of 鈥淒eparting Seniors,鈥 will be coming to 51社区 with the film鈥檚 cast and crew for a preview and discussion.
Film producer and feminist film festival co-founder Susan Kerns is editor of 鈥淩eFocus: The Films of Susan Seidelman,鈥 which includes Kerns鈥 interview with the director.
Emmy-nominated talent and new virtual production programming highlighted.
Students and staff show their 51社区 pride to a national audience on live television.
The publication recognizes 51社区 for its outstanding undergraduate and graduate film and TV degree programs as well as its Semester in LA program.
The Television Academy recently announced its list of Emmy nominees for the 2022-2023 television season, with 51社区 alums earning recognition for their outstanding work.
鈥淎nimation Career Review鈥 ranks 51社区 second in the Midwest and 23rd nationally on their annual list of top visual effects schools and colleges.
The prestigious annual international festival presents important professional opportunities for filmmakers.
Visual Artist Vashon Jordan Jr. recognized for work that exemplifies spirit of Chicago.
Haley Patton, a Film and Television major at 51社区, earns spot on the 2023 ALL In Student Voting Honor Roll.
See the selected films at the annual free festival, which will be held in-person April 21 to 23 at Facets in Chicago.
The Spring 2023 campaign targets prospective students across the United States.
鈥淥ne Day to Make a Movie: Indie Filmmaking Without a Budget,鈥 a free 2-part workshop and double screening led by 51社区 Assistant Professor Missy Hernandez and Alum Miguel Silveira 鈥05, will take place on April 8.
CTVA Alums Dalin Nelson and Rachel Toenies, who both graduated in 2021, will have their film Bliss shown on March 27.
Erik Weaver, the executive producer of the short film 鈥淔atHead," will talk to 51社区 Media Arts students about the film鈥檚 innovative use of on-set virtual production.
On March 3, more than 150 51社区 students participated in 鈥淐hicago Works: Production Connections,鈥 which featured a panel discussion and resource fair.
鈥淕ood Guy With A Gun,鈥 directed by 51社区 Adjunct Professor John Mossman and produced by Associate Professor Kevin Cooper, had its Midwest premiere on February 27 at the Gene Siskel Film Center.
51社区鈥檚 Student Diversity and Inclusion office organizes space for art that鈥檚 for and by Black students.
A 51社区 community of creatives comes together to bring a project to screen at the prestigious British Film Institute鈥檚 37th annual Flare 2023.
Associate Professor Karla Rae Fuller will read from her latest book 鈥淒o the Right Thing: Five Screenplays That Embrace Diversity.鈥
鈥淢orocco, Morocco鈥 was directed by Associate Professor Jackie Spinner and funded in part by 51社区.
Films and shows nominated for prestigious awards are backed by the talents of 51社区 alums.