Thoughtful and creative filmmakers, a fabulous celebrity host by the name of Kate Flannery (you've seen her on The Office), and films that made us laugh, cry, and want to travel the world. No, we're not talking about the Oscars, we're talking about our 2017 Study Abroad Film Festival event! We were thrilled to announce our Grand Prize winner in front of a live audience during the first-ever IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival event on November 1st, at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago.

After a record-breaking 93 total student film submissions and 2,000+ votes on Facebook, our Grand Prize award went to Ismael Byers and Kyle Arnold!
 

Interested in our other festivals? Check them out here: 

201420152016201820192020202220232024
2017 FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS

Ismael Byers & Kyle Arnold

Solitude: A Companion Abroad

"The short film we have produced aims to showcase the perspectives of students who studied abroad in Santiago, Chile this semester asking them ‘Why they studied abroad’ and their plans after. We used their responses to guide our writing of the film."

Read More

Finalists

Sapporo thumbnail

Sapporo

Jacob Hatfield • Penn State • Tokyo, Fall 2016

the journey of healing thumnail

The Journey of Healing in Japan

Wennicha Yang • University of Minnesota – Twin Cities • Tokyo, J-Term 2017

Semi-Finalists

rewind to fast forward

Rewind to Fast Forward

Sitthipong Chomsang • Dublin

how to make the most of amsterdam

How to Make the Most of Amsterdam

Noam Kahn • Amsterdam

no pasa nada

No Pasa Nada: A Tyler Collins Perspective

Tyler Collins • Barcelona

Perspective thumbnail

Abroad Perspective

Christopher Arihilam • Barcelona

just another day

Just Another Day

Marty Dang • Nagoya

Japan through my eyes

Japan Through My Eyes

Valerie M. Virgen • Tokyo

moments

moments

Alya James Abourezk • Berlin

becoming clouds

Becoming Clouds

Robin Hupin • Milan

I spy

I Spy

Bianca Elise Cortner • Sydney

“The question ‘Why abroad?’ hoped to gain responses that suggested personal growth, change or enlightenment as we explain that study abroad is not always what one expects. It is not always so loud and glamorous, it is also quiet, ‘melancholy’ and lonely. This loneliness, actually becomes our greatest teacher and companion. This companion not only accompanies us but also allows us to search our innermost selves, helping us answer questions such as ‘What are we going to do after'.”
Ismael B. & Kyle A. • Hope College & Ithaca College • Santiago – Politics, Social Justice & Language

Join the Study Abroad Film Festival

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