2025 Film Festival
Program
A Message from Ann Sorenson, Festival Director
When I was younger, my Mom would say, “Remember who you are, and whose you are.” She would say this regardless of a recent success in a creative venture or disappointment in a challenging project in my life. I’d respond with a sigh, “Yes, Mom….”Years later, I understand why she shared this wisdom. First, she had the impulse to seek validation for what she did or what she achieved. Secondly, she began to see this same impulse of pursuing an image that would garner approval in me. Our pursuits were based on a worldly definition of worth.Theologian Henri Nouwen writes, “Spiritual identity means we are not what we do or what people say about us. And we are not what we have. We are the beloved daughters and sons of God.”Let us move from the worthless preoccupation we may have with projecting a certain image in the world to the true freedom that we find in being God’s beloved.
Ann Sorenson
Festival Director & Professor of Film
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Welcome
2024-2025 Northwestern Productions Executive Staff
Micah Clark
Landon Groen
Sally-Anne Hunt
Tiffany Manning
Films
Can’t Live Without
Micah Clark
Resonance
Caleb Welsch
Not Kids Anymore
Ian Porter
Boat Truck
Carter Lambert & Krister Kahl
Needles
Lindsey Fields
On the Steps
Josiah Olson & Landon Groen
One More Day*
Belle Waggoner
*This film contains material of a highly sensitive nature including suicidal ideation that may be triggering for some individuals.
River of Heartbreak
Jenny Liang
Paws to Listen
Madeline Deckert
Threshold
Matthew Sherrard
Audience Choice Voting
Scan the QR code shown on the screen and select the title of your favorite film from this evening.
Awards Ceremony
| Sound Design | Emma Davis (’23) |
| Screenplay | Anna Carey (’13) |
| Editing | Ethan Connor (’23) |
| Acting | Jonah Smith (’21) |
| Cinematography | Josh Swanson (’24) |
| Narrative Short | Ryan Hall (’18) |
| Music Video | Kyle Livingood (’19) |
| Audience Choice | Randall Wallace Oscar-Nominated Screenwriter & Director |
Closing
2025 -2026 Northwestern Productions Executive Staff
Lily Crane
Sally-Anne Hunt
Sebastian Luna
Matthew Sherrard
Special Thanks To:
Melissa Clutter, Festival Coordinator
Noelle Rogers (’25), Event Planning Assistant
Brynn Carmichael (’25), Assistant Producer
Miranda Hobbs (’20), Stage Manager
Payton Loewenstein (’21), Front of House Manager
theMEL.fm radio
Josh Stokes, StokesFoto
Five16 Film Productions Marketing Team
Department of Communication
UNW Event Services
UNW Facilities
Knight Performance Hall
UNW Marketing & Communications
UNW Admissions
UNW Alumni
UNW Art & Design
UNW Theatre
Festival Selection Committee:
Joel Light
Annalisa Buerke (’98)
Nathan Farley
Judy Hougen
Ken Jones
Melissa Mork
Susan Payne
John Printy
Jodi Richert (’92)
Robert Richert
Jackie Sommers (’03)
Laura Watkins
Festival Judges:
Chris Behnen (’14)
Dave Berggren
Nathan Brock
Anna Carey (’13)
Tyler Clements (’09)
Keith Eveland
Josh Feland (’21)
Ross Fleming (’12)
Keegan Goldfarb (’22)
Heidi Habben (’96)
Wes Halula (’15)
Rachel Hastings (’16)
Andrew Hatling
Jazmine Hoffeld (’14)
Jennifer Hunter
Tim Ingold (’09)
Brad Johnson
Eric Johnson (’15)
Krista Koester (’14)
Scott Krueger (’21)
Zac Lundstrom (’16)
Carson Mithelman (’20)
Jared Myers (’15)
Jason Rackow
Barbara Shelton
Dan Stewart (’09)
Josh Thulin (’08)
Cynthia Uhrich
Greg Winter
Five16 Film Productions Students:
Austin Amborn
Jeremy Brown
Lydia Carlson
Noah Chatelle
Anabella Chiclana
Micah Clark
Chase Collins
Elijah Cook
Lily Crane
Guinevere Daniels
Ruilin Duan
Landon Groen
Riles Hinson
Benjamin Johnsen
Lilianna Johnson
Krister Kahl
Brynn Kolbrek
Michael Kysylyczyn
Tiffany Manning
Ivy McPherson
Benjamin Olson
Josiah Olson
Faith Paul
Ella Priola
Katelyn Rens
Matthew Sherrard
Charles Smith
Kayli Thompson
Owen Van De Riet
Opening Video Credits:
Director – Sally-Anne Hunt
Producer – Tiffany Manning
Cinematographer – Sally-Anne Hunt
Editor – Micah Clark
Gaffer – Sebastian Luna
Grip – Elijah Cook, Lily Crane
Potter – Gavin Brenes
