Columbia Faculty and Students Participate in Moroccan Film Festival

CTVA Professor Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa was a judge at the International Film School Festival of Tétouan in Morocco, which featured films from Columbia students.

Columbia Cinema and Television Arts Professor Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa was a judge at the International Film School Festival of Tétouan, which ran November 7 through 11, 2022. The festival’s main objective was to promote the work of students from film schools, universities, and institutes specializing in the film industry. 

This year the festival screened samples of Columbia student films from the CTVA and Animation program. The festival catalog also included pages of information about BA, BFA, and MFA in CTVA, Interdisciplinary Documentary, and Animation Programs. Festival organizers presented Saeed-Vafa a statuette as an expression of gratitude and appreciation for Columbia's participation in the festival, noting the excellence of Columbia's student works and educational programs.

In addition to judging, Saeed-Vafa also taught a masterclass on directing documentaries.  

Columbia student films featured at the festival include the following: 

  • Late Bell (Animation) - Ana De La Ossa, Gabby Fernandez  
  • Space Race (Animation) - Shane Dioneda  
  • House of Ubae (Documentary) - Koda Calma  
  • Showman (Documentary) - Armin Korsos 
  • Pegasus (Fiction) - Orlando Leroi  
  • 71 Seconds (Fiction) - Jazmin Bryant  
  • The Turing Test (Fiction) - Catherine M. Cutaia  
  • Fear Frenzy! (Fiction) - Nikki Milan Houston 
  • Close Ties to Home Country (Fiction) - Akanksha Cruczynski 
  • Part of Me (Documentary) - Nick Forsythe 
  • Vera Klement: Blunt Edge (Documentary) - Wonjung Bae