CBU Film Festival premieres student films on the big screen

Riverside, Calif. (April 8, 2025) - A film festival is a celebration of passion, creativity and storytelling power that filmmakers deliver to the screen. The Student Film Festival which features works of talented California Baptist University film students is no different.

The students have the unique opportunity to showcase their work on the big screen at the Box Theater in Riverside. The event, which will screen more than 15 films, is held in conjunction with the Riverside International Film Festival.

The collaboration between RIFF and the CBU Student Film Festival has allowed students to intern and interact with filmmakers and film industry experts, said Michael Eaton, professor of film studies.

“It's also a great opportunity for students to screen their films for a festival audience on a big screen with great audio,” Eaton said.

As the festival approaches, students are putting the finishing touches on their films, which include short films and documentaries.

Tania Brooks, a film junior, submitted three films to the festival: “Rocky Road,” “The Brother That Never Was” and “Deadly Exposure.” Noah Head, a film sophomore, submitted one: “Nostalgia Is a Mind Trick.”

Behind each film is a filmmaker with a unique vision and message they hope will resonate with the audience. In “Nostalgia,” the film's main theme is to encourage viewers to reflect on their memories positively and not let the idea of nostalgia and the passage of time weigh them down, Head said.

“Hopefully this will bring the audience a sense of happiness and sympathy,” he explained.

Brooks wants “Rocky Road” to elicit a mix of laughter and tears.

“I hope they have a bunch of emotions all in one sitting,” she said.

Both filmmakers faced challenges during production. For Brooks, the toughest part was managing scheduling and casting.

“As a college student, I've frequently faced conflicts that required rescheduling or replacing crew and actors in last-minute scrambles,” Brooks said.

For Head, one of the most difficult challenges was capturing a specific long shot – a push-in of a girl at her birthday party. As the camera pushes close to her face, all the decorations and people disappear.

“This shot took six tries, and each one required extensive effort from both the actors and crew to get everything nailed perfectly. In the end, the shot looked beautiful,” Head said.

Brooks sees the festival as a fantastic opportunity to share work with a live audience.

“We all spend a lot of time and effort putting together our work. It gives us time to see how much everyone has grown in their craft and learn about new artists that produce fantastic work,” she said.  

Head encouraged fellow filmmakers not to be afraid of what others might think about their film.

“No matter your skill or experience, find something you're passionate about and create,” he said. “The biggest block for creativity is comparison, so once you learn not to care what others think, you will open a world of new possibilities.”

CBU Student Film Festival
When: April 14, 5 p.m. red carpet reception, 7 p.m. film screenings with awards to follow
Where: The Box Theater at 3635 Market St., Riverside, CA 92501