From 96 record-breaking submissions to 18 semi-finalists, our international jury selected their top 3 films for a month of public voting. One film was a moving music video from Rabat. Another detail a mysterious night in Barcelona. The third was an adventurous and upbeat story about friendship abroad. More than 2,000 votes later, Philip Baites took home the Grand Prize award for his film Tangier to Casablanca during an exciting and inspiring Film Festival celebration at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. 

 

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2018 FILM FESTIVAL WINNER

Philip Baites

Tangier to Casablanca

"Featuring a train ride, Chefchaouen (the 'Blue City'), Rabat, the Sahara Desert, cameos by two sweet neighbor girls, my Arabic professor, and my precious host mother, Doha, as the central character, Tangier to Casablanca is a story of pain, joy, longing, and journeys intertwining."

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Finalists

one night in barcelona

One Night in Barcelona

Penn Harrison • University of Texas at Austin • Barcelona, Spring 2018

happiness only real

Happiness Only Real When Shared

Erik Patak • University of Rochester • Auckland, Fall 2017

Semi-Finalists

soy fanny

Soy Fanny

Andie Ayala • Princeton University • Granada, Spring 2018

walk in milan

Walk in Milan

Aaron Yasko • Indiana University • Milan, Spring 2018

study abroad stories

Study Abroad Stories

Allison Schafer • University of Iowa • Milan, Fall 2017

el fotografo

El Fotógrafo

Isabel Bautista • Gettysburg College • Salamanca, Fall 2017

the other side

The Other Side

Danielle Weinstein • Ithaca College • Auckland, Spring 2017

first year experience

First Year Experience

Claire Maske • Skidmore College • London, Fall 2017

the bucket list

The Bucket List

Moriah Atlas • Indiana University • London, Spring 2018

el gusto de hacer

El Gusto de Hacer

Ethan Eldridge • Indiana University • Santiago, Summer 2018

where are you right meow

Where Are You Right Meow

Maysam Al-Ani • Northwestern University • Tokyo, Summer 2016

make every day a good day

Make Every Day A Good Day

James Jenkins • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • Barcelona, Spring 2018

a day (semester)

A Day (Semester) in Christchurch

Tessa Vande Creek • University of Rochester • Christchurch, Fall 2017

Shanghai a visual diary

Shanghai, A Visual Diary

Kaung Kyaw • University of Pittsburgh • Shanghai, Spring 2018

not your ugly asian dude

Not Your Ugly Asian Dude

Yu Chen • Tulane University • Rabat, Spring 2018

let's talk

Let’s Talk

Taylor Rainey • Howard University • Buenos Aires, Spring 2018

letter to madrid

letter to madrid

Carol Lee Diallo • Haverford College • Madrid, Spring 2018

“I never thought that I would be able to do something like this, but the most important thing I learned abroad was to never underestimate my abilites. I have a lot of things to learn about myself, and I am thankful to New Zealand for kickstarting my next great adventure in my life.”
Tessa V.C. • University of Rochester • Christchurch Direct Enrollment – University Of Canterbury

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