Filmmakers filled the Facets Theater from April 24 to 26 to see their short films on the big screen at CineYouth’s 21st annual film festival.
The event showcased short films by young filmmakers from all over the world. It offered free admission and a variety of events beyond screenings, including Q&As with filmmakers and workshops presented by Adobe and Columbia College Chicago.
For Marketing Manager Michael Welch, CineYouth is more than a collection of top short films. It’s a community that fosters support for aspiring artists, he said.
“I hope this really gives them a platform to showcase their work for the first time and really motivates them to continue to follow their art and to grow in their careers,” Welch said.
CineYouth screened 71 selected short films from 16 countries. According to Welch, the decision process was rigorous and took six months.
Films were split into 10 different categories, ranging from “chaotic evil,” which included dark films with twisted outcomes, to “(dis)embodied,” featuring films focused on the LGBTQ+ experience.
For Daniela Morales Morcillo (Communication ’25), the most important viewer of her film was her mother.
“Retazos” centers on her mother’s self-reflection on motherhood through experimentation with family archival photos.
Morales Morcillo said she remembers her mother’s reaction to seeing their family photos on the big screen, which she wasn’t aware would be included when Morales Morcillo took them.
“(She) never thought people outside our family would see it, but she’s very proud,” Morales Morcillo said. “She’s been very supportive of my filmmaking enterprises.”
Morales Morcillo’s mother wasn’t the only supportive face in the crowd. Brianna Gallardo (Communication ’25), Morales Morcillo’s close friend, said she felt proud to see Morales Morcillo’s work broadcast on the big screen.
Gallardo, a fellow film enthusiast, found the event enriching.
“I’m just excited that her film is given a platform to be seen by a huge amount of people,” Gallardo said. “I really love seeing other people’s work, and just being able to be in the same space with other creatives.”
Morales Morcillo said she had applied to CineYouth so many times, she lost count.
“Third time’s the charm,” Morales Morcillo said. “Oh, wait, actually, fourth. Fourth time is the charm.”
Loyola Marymount University student Molly Foy, another young filmmaker, based her screenplay “Hail, Mary” on a collection of memories from her adolescence.
The short film is a coming-of-age story in which the protagonist rebels against their parents in order to prove their independence to friends.
“There’s so many faces involved in this, like actual programmers and people that have watched your film and want to talk about it,” Foy said. “Not only has someone seen my film that I don’t know, they also enjoyed it and saw a place for it within their program.”
After spending half a year preparing for the event, Welch said the payoff was beyond rewarding.
He said the festival is meaningful not only to the filmmakers, but to the CineYouth team as well.
Welch said he looks forward to a bright future at CineYouth, hoping to continue to increase young filmmakers’ passion for film.
“I just want this to be an opportunity for them to continue to pursue their art,” Welch said.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
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