A Message from Ann Sorenson, Festival Director
Ever since I hyperextended my knee while ice skating in 5th grade or broke my femur playing football in 7th grade, I harbored a fear of falling. I never perceived any benefit or upside to it…until recently.
As an adult, I’ve come to see falls as more than just physical accidents. Falling can also encompass experiences that inflict emotional pain, circumstances that lead to disappointment, and failure that we let define our abilities. But when I look at specific examples from my own life, I see that God has been with me in a fall and moved me into something far more beautiful or fitting than I first imagined. Falls don’t have to signify descent; they can symbolize ascent.
"Falling Upward" is the theme our film students have chosen for this year’s festival. I've relished hearing our students deliberate on the idea of falling upward. They’ve mused about responding to their mistakes with repentance and challenged one another to believe that falling down can be falling up.
If I had this insight in my early adult life, I would have seen more quickly that the falls I experienced were actually opportunities that God worked for good.
Ann Sorenson
Festival Director & Professor of Film
Ever since I hyperextended my knee while ice skating in 5th grade or broke my femur playing football in 7th grade, I harbored a fear of falling. I never perceived any benefit or upside to it…until recently.
As an adult, I’ve come to see falls as more than just physical accidents. Falling can also encompass experiences that inflict emotional pain, circumstances that lead to disappointment, and failure that we let define our abilities. But when I look at specific examples from my own life, I see that God has been with me in a fall and moved me into something far more beautiful or fitting than I first imagined. Falls don’t have to signify descent; they can symbolize ascent.
"Falling Upward" is the theme our film students have chosen for this year’s festival. I've relished hearing our students deliberate on the idea of falling upward. They’ve mused about responding to their mistakes with repentance and challenged one another to believe that falling down can be falling up.
If I had this insight in my early adult life, I would have seen more quickly that the falls I experienced were actually opportunities that God worked for good.
Ann Sorenson
Festival Director & Professor of Film
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Matthew 5:16
Welcome
2023-2024 Northwestern Productions Executive Staff
Micah Clark
Raeann Goetz
Josh Swanson
Morgan Wiebold
Micah Clark
Raeann Goetz
Josh Swanson
Morgan Wiebold
Films
RUINED
Ian Porter
Rhythm
Belle Waggoner
Jennifer Hunter: 10 Years of Light
Micah Clark
Momentary
Ian Porter
The Truth of Grief
Micah Clark
Sam Dies at the End
Krister Kahl
Entropy
Riles Hinson
Again
Morgan Wiebold
Whatever You Do
Josh Swanson, Caitlyn Swigart, Kiera Brown
Hold On
Landon Groen
Ian Porter
Rhythm
Belle Waggoner
Jennifer Hunter: 10 Years of Light
Micah Clark
Momentary
Ian Porter
The Truth of Grief
Micah Clark
Sam Dies at the End
Krister Kahl
Entropy
Riles Hinson
Again
Morgan Wiebold
Whatever You Do
Josh Swanson, Caitlyn Swigart, Kiera Brown
Hold On
Landon Groen
Audience Choice Voting
Text your choice to 22333, using the following codes:
RUINED - RUINED
Rhythm - RHYTHM
Jennifer Hunter: 10 Years of Light - LIGHT
Momentary - MOMENTFILM
The Truth of Grief - TRUTHFILM
Sam Dies at the End - SAMFILM
Entropy - ENTROPY
Again - AGAINFILM
Whatever You Do - MATTHILL
Hold On - HOLDONFILM
Text your choice to 22333, using the following codes:
RUINED - RUINED
Rhythm - RHYTHM
Jennifer Hunter: 10 Years of Light - LIGHT
Momentary - MOMENTFILM
The Truth of Grief - TRUTHFILM
Sam Dies at the End - SAMFILM
Entropy - ENTROPY
Again - AGAINFILM
Whatever You Do - MATTHILL
Hold On - HOLDONFILM
Awards Ceremony
Alumni |
Timothy Ingold ('09) |
Sound Design |
Emma Davis ('23) |
Actor |
Maggie Sammon ('22) |
Editing |
Ethan Connor ('23) |
Screenplay |
Daniel Bernstrom ('10) |
Cinematography |
Jayden Peterman ('21) |
Music Video |
Elizabeth Niezgocki ('23) |
Documentary |
Scott Krueger ('21) |
Narrative Short |
Ethan Connor ('23) |
Audience Choice Award |
Monte Abeler ('12) Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement |
Closing
2024 -2025 Northwestern Productions Executive Staff
Micah Clark
Landon Groen
Sally-Anne Hunt
Tiffany Manning
Micah Clark
Landon Groen
Sally-Anne Hunt
Tiffany Manning
Special Thanks To:
Melissa Clutter, Festival Coordinator
Mitchel Lowder ('24), Event Planning Assistant
Miranda Hobbs ('20), Stage Manager
Natalie Clutter, Festival Assistant
theMEL.fm radio
Matt Blewett ('04), My Story Minnesota
Five16 Film Productions Marketing Team
UNW Public Relations workshop students
Department of Communication
UNW Event Services
UNW Facilities
Knight Performance Hall
UNW Marketing & Communications
UNW Admissions
UNW Alumni
UNW Art & Design
UNW Theatre
Mitchel Lowder ('24), Event Planning Assistant
Miranda Hobbs ('20), Stage Manager
Natalie Clutter, Festival Assistant
theMEL.fm radio
Matt Blewett ('04), My Story Minnesota
Five16 Film Productions Marketing Team
UNW Public Relations workshop students
Department of Communication
UNW Event Services
UNW Facilities
Knight Performance Hall
UNW Marketing & Communications
UNW Admissions
UNW Alumni
UNW Art & Design
UNW Theatre
Festival Selection Committee:
Joel Light
Annalisa Buerke ('98)
Nathan Farley
Judy Hougen
Ken Jones
Melissa Mork
Susan Payne
John Printy
Jodi Richert ('92)
Robert Richert
Jackie Sommers ('03)
Laura Watkins
Joel Light
Annalisa Buerke ('98)
Nathan Farley
Judy Hougen
Ken Jones
Melissa Mork
Susan Payne
John Printy
Jodi Richert ('92)
Robert Richert
Jackie Sommers ('03)
Laura Watkins
Festival Judges:
Zac Anderson ('15)
Chris Behnen ('14)
Anna Carey ('13)
Tyler Clements ('09)
Terry Esau ('78)
Keith Eveland
Josh Feland ('21)
Ross Fleming ('12)
Keegan Goldfarb ('22)
Heidi Habben ('96)
Wes Halula ('15)
Rachel Hastings ('16)
Andrew Hatling
Jazmine Hoffeld ('14)
Jennifer Hunter
Tim Ingold ('09)
Brad Johnson
Eric Johnson ('15)
Krista Koester ('14)
Marlys Livingston ('08)
Jared Myers ('15)
Barbara Shelton
Dan Stewart ('09)
Cynthia Uhrich
Greg Winter
Zac Anderson ('15)
Chris Behnen ('14)
Anna Carey ('13)
Tyler Clements ('09)
Terry Esau ('78)
Keith Eveland
Josh Feland ('21)
Ross Fleming ('12)
Keegan Goldfarb ('22)
Heidi Habben ('96)
Wes Halula ('15)
Rachel Hastings ('16)
Andrew Hatling
Jazmine Hoffeld ('14)
Jennifer Hunter
Tim Ingold ('09)
Brad Johnson
Eric Johnson ('15)
Krista Koester ('14)
Marlys Livingston ('08)
Jared Myers ('15)
Barbara Shelton
Dan Stewart ('09)
Cynthia Uhrich
Greg Winter
Five16 Film Productions Students:
Andrew Aleckson
Hannah Bauer
Joylee Christensen
Micah Clark
Lily Crane
Raeann Goetz
Landon Groen
Riles Hinson
Tamryn Holdsworth
Ethan Hugare
Sally-Anne Hunt
Isaiah Johnson
Krister Kahl
Carter Lambert
Karis LeTexier
Sebastian Luna
Tiffany Manning
Ivy McPherson
Elliana Naegelen
Josiah Olson
Ian Porter
James Rawlings
Hope Ring
Rachel Sandifer
Matthew Sherrard
Joshua Swanson
Owen Van De Riet
Isabelle Waggoner
Caleb Welsch
Morgan Wiebold
Andrew Aleckson
Hannah Bauer
Joylee Christensen
Micah Clark
Lily Crane
Raeann Goetz
Landon Groen
Riles Hinson
Tamryn Holdsworth
Ethan Hugare
Sally-Anne Hunt
Isaiah Johnson
Krister Kahl
Carter Lambert
Karis LeTexier
Sebastian Luna
Tiffany Manning
Ivy McPherson
Elliana Naegelen
Josiah Olson
Ian Porter
James Rawlings
Hope Ring
Rachel Sandifer
Matthew Sherrard
Joshua Swanson
Owen Van De Riet
Isabelle Waggoner
Caleb Welsch
Morgan Wiebold
Opening Video Credits:
Director & Editor - Micah Clark
Camera - Ian Porter
Director & Editor - Micah Clark
Camera - Ian Porter
