Filmmaking Students Win First at Zions Indie Film Fest
Published: March 26, 2025 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 6 minutes
Southern Utah University Filmmaking students Carson Blickenstaff and Madeline Bradley recently achieved a major victory at the Zions Indie Film Fest (ZIFF). Not only were both of their short films accepted to screen during the festival, but they also won First Place in the festival’s inaugural Commercial Contest. The competition challenged aspiring filmmakers to create a 30 to 60-second commercial capturing the excitement of ZIFF with the tagline “Gather. Celebrate. Connect.”
After already submitting their short films to the festival, Madeline stumbled upon a post from ZIFF, advertising the commercial contest to first-time filmmakers and students. Having just finished shooting their thesis film, Untainted Sky, they were eager to take on a fresh, creative challenge.
Madeline said, “Needless to say, we were burnt out after a year of working on our thesis story, so we were ready to sink our teeth into something new. Carson and I have worked on nearly all of our films together as a director and cinematographer duo, so it felt natural to make this commercial with just us and our actor, Kalen Fernandez.”
The minute-long commercial begins with a man scrolling on social media until he sees an advertisement for the Zions Indie Film Fest. He decides to go, and the picture cuts to him taking his seat in the theater. He is apprehensive as he begins to watch, but when the viewer sees the films from his perspective, the man is the main character in each clip. He sees himself as a noir-style detective, a cowboy, and a knight in shining armor. The more he watches, the more he enjoys the experience. The last clip shows him grabbing a camera, presumably inspired to create his own film.
Though both Carson and Madeline expected to perhaps show their commercial at ZIFF, neither expected that they would win first place. Carson recalls, “ZIFF’s co-director, Marshall Moore, called me on the day they said they were going to announce the winners and personally notified me that we won. I was over the moon! It felt amazing to me that the ad we created resonated with ZIFF staff in the way we’d hoped.”
Madeline recalled being stunned by the win, expecting a third-place finish at best. Her fiancé, Jaydan Keeler, celebrated by showering her with cash in honor of their cash prize money. Stepping on stage to receive the award made the win feel real and reinforced the impact of their work.
Madeline describes filmmaking as the ultimate form of storytelling, blending all art forms into a collaborative project that connects people on a deeply human level. Her journey at SUU began with creative writing before transitioning to filmmaking when SUU introduced its program.
Carson shares a similar passion, driven by the ability to visually tell stories and create meaningful experiences for audiences. “Once I was in the program I learned that I enjoyed the ‘team sport’ nature of filmmaking and that films can be better when you collaborate with other creatively like-minded people, who are able to bring their own perspective into a story and elevate the project,” he explains. His dedication to cinematography and the filmmaking process fuels his excitement for future industry work.
Both students credit their success to the mentorship and support of SUU faculty. Madeline highlights Jahanara Saleh for pushing her beyond what she thought was possible. “Jahanara taught me that I am capable of so much more than I thought possible. She’s pushed me, guided me, and encouraged me to discover my artistic voice,” she said. Madeline also credits Bill Kershisnik for helping her stay motivated through the challenges of an artistic career and to prepare for her career post-graduation.
Carson credits former SUU Videographer and current SUU TV Station Manager, Troy Edler, for mentoring him in camera work and editing. “Troy taught me so much of what I know on the technical side of things and started me on a path of developing my own style.” He also recognizes Jahanara Saleh for shaping his understanding of storytelling. “Jahanara taught me how to write a cohesive narrative and meaningful characters into a script. She really cares about her students and has helped shape my, and many other students’, understanding of the filmmaking and storytelling process that will aid in our careers for years to come.”
Both Carson and Madeline are passionate filmmakers with bright futures ahead. After graduation, Madeline plans to pitch a television series to BYUtv, an opportunity she credits to her Bill Kershisnik. Her long-term goal is to gain more experience in the industry before pursuing a master’s degree in filmmaking and eventually becoming a professor.
Carson’s focus is on working as a cinematographer or first assistant camera (1st AC) on as many film sets as possible after graduation. He emphasizes that networking is crucial in the film industry, and his experiences at SUU and various film festivals have helped him build important industry connections. “Being personable and connecting with people in the film industry and showing how you can be helpful to their projects and goals is the number one way to get work,” he says. Some of these connections have already led to paid filmmaking opportunities.
When asked if they had any advice for future filmmakers, both Carson and Madeline said that they should start creating without waiting for permission. “You don’t need a degree to make films,” says Madeline. “All you need is a camera and determination.”
Carson echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of connections. “Networking is everything. If you can be helpful to people in the industry, you will find work.” Their win at ZIFF is a testament to the power of storytelling, perseverance, and the connections formed through SUU’s Filmmaking program.
While it’s too late to enjoy their work at the Zions Indie Film Fest, there will be plenty of chances to see Carson and Madeline’s work before the end of the semester. From March 29 to April 25, 2025, patrons can view the trailer for their thesis film, Untainted Sky at Sublime: 2025 Senior BFA Exhibition at the Southern Utah Museum of Art. Audiences will be able to watch the whole film on April 19th during the inaugural BFA Thesis Film Screening at the SUU Auditorium from 4 to 10 p.m. To learn more about Filmmaking at Southern Utah University, please visit www.suu.edu/pva/art/film.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Tags: Filmmaking Filmmaking Art and Design College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact Information:
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu