After the Credits Roll: Life After Winning IES Abroad's Study Abroad Film Festival

SS: I recently graduated from UW-Madison where I studied journalism and film/digital communications. I’m now a freelance journalist/videographer working primarily with Wisconsin 350, an environmental organization. 

ZK: I am currently a Producer of social video at Philly-based ad agency RTO+P. 

KK: I'm directing my first feature length documentary, Holding on to Water. It's about my dad's 10-hour swim to Hong Kong from China to escape communism in the 70s and how that affected my family.  

JC: I am the Director of Bands and Orchestra at Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, IN. I am currently in my 7th year of teaching.   

SS: Winning the IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival had a huge impact on me and my career. Storytelling, particularly through the medium of film, was what I studied in college, and what I’m doing with my career. It’s become a deep love of mine, and the IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival was the first film project I ever did outside of a university setting. It was an incredible experience that not only gave me some real exposure to that world, but it gave me confidence that it’s something I can succeed in outside of my university. 

ZW: The IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival completely solidified my desire to go into film full-time and gave me a much-needed confidence boost. After winning, I felt more equipped and self-assured to pursue my creative ideas. It also served as a wonderful resume booster because of the festival itself and the press around the festival. It was the first time I felt truly like a professional filmmaker. 

KK: The IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival made me finally believe my voice as a director is important and worth sharing. It was the first time I realized I'm capable of making art that positively impacts more than myself.   

JC: The IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival provided me the opportunity to meet and connect with many kind people. We shared stories of our time abroad and reflected on our amazing experiences. We all value education, diversity, and encourage others to take the leap of studying abroad to experience life-changing activities. As an educator, I work to create unforgettable, incredible experiences for my students. I use travel as one of the tools to accomplish that goal. 

SS: Be genuine, be curious, and be open. Study abroad can be a very transformative and personal experience. It can be easy to get swept up in how other people are forming their experiences, or how you think it’s supposed to play out. I think this can box you in a bit. Be open to your new home, and allow your experience to unfold without too many preconceived notions. Most of my favorite memories came from moments when I stepped outside my comfort zone and allowed myself to fall into the place I was. Being your genuine self and being curious is also vital to this. Learn everything you can (the language, culture, people, history, etc.), make your time your own, and experience all of it. 

ZW: My advice would be: think outside the box. Sure, you can film everything you see and make a fun travelogue when you get back, but you can push yourself further than that. Find an angle, a story, a specific moment or place, that really encapsulates what your experience meant to you. Don't just show us what you did, tell us why it matters.   

KK (photographer of left photo): Document anything and everything without taking away from your experience. Sometimes that means filming something with your phone or taking pictures. Other ways could be recording a voice memo of the ambience of your friends finally connecting or you stumbling in language class. Or it could be spending five minutes a day journaling all the things you're feeling. Whatever it looks like, you must do something for the sake of your future self.   

JC (pictured above, right): I suggest documenting your time abroad by diving into a medium you are passionate about or picking something new that you want to try. For me, film was something new that I wanted to try. Now, I have a four minute video that allows me to relive some of the most amazing times of my life. I am jealous of my wife's travel journal because it is filled with great detail and timestamps of her activities. If I could do it again, I would be more diligent in taking more detailed notes of my travels.  

SS (pictured above, left): I couldn’t believe it! There had been so much build-up in the months leading up to it, it felt unreal when they called my name. I was so excited and proud of my film, and so grateful to my friends, family, and everyone who helped me get there. 

ZW (pictured above, right): When I won, I was overjoyed. I was pretty surprised because the other films in the competition were incredible and I felt immense gratitude to everyone who voted. The entire day at the festival was a whirlwind of press, new faces, and other filmmakers. I was honored just to be a part of it. When I won, though, it was the cherry on top.  

KK: I didn't want to have too high expectations in case I was let down. So, when I was making the film, I really was just trying to make something that would make my friends from abroad proud. I hoped they would walk away feeling honored and nostalgic about our adventure and all it did for our lives. So, if I didn't win, I would know I had already accomplished my purpose. When I did win, I was elated and excited to share the victory with my friends. It was the extra cherry on top of an already transformative semester.

JC: I was surprised to find out I was a finalist and shocked to find out that I won! I never thought that anyone would see it outside of my family and friends. When a staff member at IES Abroad Vienna saw it, they urged me to submit it for the IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival. I figured, "why not", and here we are! 

By now we hope it’s clear that this is truly more than a film festival — if the stories of our previous winners have captivated your heart as they have ours, here's how to stay inspired and in the loop about our 10^th Study Abroad Film Festival on October 17^th, 2024: