For the first time in two years, we rolled out the red carpet for our Film Festival in-person at a brand new location, VenueSIX10 in downtown Chicago, on October 12th—all in benefit of IES Abroad scholarships. Zeke Winitsky (Penn State University • IES Abroad Berlin - Language & Culture, Summer 2022) took home the Grand Prize for the 8th annual Study Abroad Film Festival for his film Coming to Berlin.

The award was present by the Film Festival's host, Patrick Jager, an IES Abroad Vienna alum, Study Abroad Film Festival Juror, and award-winning media executive who led the development and production team behind such hits as A&E “Biography”, VH1 “Behind the Music,” and the creator of HGTVs mega hit “Fixer Upper.” in front of 200+ attendees!

During Patrick’s celebratory opening remarks, he said: “I am here as a creative, and an alum to say thank you for being here and for celebrating these incredible students who are combining their passion for cultural exchange and storytelling…I am amazed by our Finalists and all those who submitted films this year. They have gone above and beyond to tell their stories through quality films, revealing their vulnerabilities to the world. Each story is uniquely different and equally captivating. We are lucky to experience these students’ journeys through their lens.”

 

Interested in our past festivals? Check them out here:

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2022 FILM FESTIVAL WINNER

Zeke Winitsky

Coming to Berlin

"'Coming to Berlin' is a film that was experienced as much as it was made. Being the descendant of a holocaust survivor, spending time in Germany was complicated."

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Finalists

feel so free thumbnail

Feel so Free

Teri Newman & Stephanie Rivera • University of Rochester • London,  Spring 2022

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standby

Griffin King • Indiana University • London, Fall 2021

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Not My Life

Clarence Angelo Lilley • Indiana University • Milan, Fall 2021

Semi-Finalists

Man with race car

Down Force

Chris Alderfer •  Penn State University • Barcelona, Spring 2022

two students walking in the rain

A Walk to Remember

Daniel Mezzalingua • Villanova University • Rome, Fall 2021

front of a magic shop in barcelona

Mesmerized

Genna Zagoren, Maria Morris, Julia Parker • Penn State University • Barcelona, Spring 2022

Two students in front of a yellow and blue wall

The Bucket List (Die Bucketliste)

Isabelle Sanna, Kendall Clark • Northwestern University • Barcelona, Fall 2021

Relive the 2022 Film Festival

For the first time in two years, we rolled out the red carpet for our Film Festival in-person at a brand new location, VenueSIX10 in downtown Chicago, on October 12th—all in benefit of IES Abroad scholarships.

Watch Now

“This year’s Finalists capture the spirit of study abroad and its importance better than we could have imagined.”
Amy Ruhter McMillan • Senior Associate Vice President of Marketing and Founder of the IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival

Join the Study Abroad Film Festival

a student takes a photo of the ocean on the beach in Barcelona