SUU International Film Festival Celebrates Global Cinema and Community Growth
Published: March 07, 2025 | Author: Jacob Carr | Read Time: 2 minutes
Southern Utah University's annual International Film Festival wrapped up its 2025 season on February 27th, bringing a diverse collection of international cinema to the Cedar City community. The festival, which showcases films in Chinese, French, German, and Spanish, has seen significant growth in attendance and community engagement since its inception.
The festival’s growth is evident in its increasing attendance and positive community feedback. Audience members, including students and Cedar City residents, have expressed their appreciation for the unique cultural experience offered by ICSUU.
“We have seen our festival grow over the years, with increased attendance every year,” said Dr. Corey Twitchell. “We have received positive feedback and now have community members who come every year to support us. Our hope is to continue on this trajectory in the years to come.”
The success of the SUU International Film Festival is also attributed to the generous support from the Department of Languages & Philosophy and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS).
The mission of International Cinema at SUU (ICSUU) is to provide SUU audiences, including the broader Cedar City community, with access to international films that are often unavailable in rural areas. This year’s festival continued this tradition, offering a rich cultural experience through cinema.
The festival’s origins trace back to SUU’s French Film Festival which began in 2009. In 2016, Dr. Twitchell, along with Dr. Carlos Bertoglio, Dr. Elise Leahy, Dr. Rosa Perez, expanded the concept to include all languages taught in the Department of Languages & Philosophy, establishing ICSUU.
The film selection process is a collaborative effort, with each language program suggesting titles for consideration. The committee, comprising the festival’s founders and faculty, meets regularly to curate a diverse program.
“We select and agree on all films as a committee,” said Dr. Twitchell. “Each language program suggests a few ideas and we discuss over the course of several meetings which films would work best together as the cluster of films that makes up each year’s festival. We like to include a wide range of films, from classics to more recent releases.”
Over the years, ICSUU has successfully secured external funding, including grants from Utah Humanities, allowing the festival to consistently present a high-quality lineup of films. The addition of Sandy Zhang to the faculty further enriched the program by incorporating Chinese-language films.
The 2025 ICSUU festival has once again proven to be a valuable cultural asset for SUU and the Cedar City community, fostering a deeper appreciation for global cinema and cultural exchange.
The mission of the Language programs in the Department of Languages & Philosophy is to provide students with a rigorous program wherein they perfect their abilities to communicate in the languages they study. Through extra-curricular activities, and through a series of courses which include language, linguistics, literature, culture, and pedagogy, students are prepared for lifelong enrichment, graduate studies, and entrance into the global workforce.
Tags: Campus College of Humanities and Social Sciences Languages and Philosophy Community
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu