SUU Filmmaking Celebrates First Graduating Class with Inaugural Film Screening
Published: April 14, 2025 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 3 minutes
Southern Utah University proudly announces the graduation of the first cohort from its Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Filmmaking program. Established in the fall of 2022, the program will see 11 students cross the stage at April’s graduation proceedings. This marks a historic milestone not only for SUU, but also for the state of Utah. As the only BFA in Filmmaking in Utah, this degree offers students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on industry experience, develop creative storytelling skills, and hone their visual and technical artistry.
SUU’s interdisciplinary Filmmaking program delivers a comprehensive education, focusing on screenwriting, production design, directing, cinematography, and post-production, while grounding students in film theory, narrative analysis, and collaborative storytelling. Housed in Bristlecone Hall, the program offers access to professional-grade film studios, a digital lab, a recording studio, and faculty and staff who are industry professionals.
In celebration of this pioneering class, SUU invites the campus and community to the inaugural BFA Thesis Film Screening on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in the SUU Auditorium Theatre. The evening will kick off with a red carpet at 4:00 p.m., followed by the film screening and awards ceremony at 5:00 p.m., culminating in an after-party at 8:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, though viewer discretion is advised, as some films contain strong language and mature themes.
Notably, the thesis films being showcased were all financed through student-led fundraising efforts, demonstrating the cohort’s dedication, initiative, and belief in their work. Through sponsorships and community support, these students brought their visions to life and gained valuable experience in the professional realities of independent film production.
This year’s BFA filmmakers are showcasing a diverse array of narrative and documentary films, many of which have already generated excitement through trailers on view at the Southern Utah Museum of Art’s 2025 Senior BFA Exhibition, Sublime. Featured films include:
- Untainted Sky directed by Madeline Bradley with cinematography by Carson Blickenstaff, co-written and co-edited by the pair;
- MUDPOT written and directed by Maddy Fait;
- Sage Hen written and directed by McKenna Murphy with cinematography by Carson Blickenstaff;
- Ripple written and directed by Jacob Norris;
- The Bird and the Bear co-written and co-directed by Audrey Gee and Sarah Hutchings;
- Fallout and Flowers written and directed by Megan Newbold;
- Committed written and directed by Naomi Ogden; and
- Skin Deep written and directed by Bailey Giles.
“These students have poured their passion, vision, and technical skills into their thesis films, and it shows,” said program faculty. “This is not only a celebration of their work, but a glimpse into the future of filmmaking in Utah and beyond.”
Join us in honoring these trailblazing graduates and witness the cinematic talent emerging from SUU’s Filmmaking BFA program. For more information about Filmmaking at SUU, visit www.suu.edu/pva/art/film.
Photos courtesy of Dean Michael T. Schmidt.
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 Community College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact Information:
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu