WKU Film Festival this week
Published 4:48 pm Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Zachary Annecchini, senior director of photography specialist, oversees the cinematography in the senior thesis film, "The Testimony of Sir Gareth" (2025). (Submitted)
Rj Eckel, director, sets up his shot with 2nd assistant director Kylie Miller for his senior thesis film, “Witches’ Rave.” (Submitted)
On'Dria Gibson uses a viewfinder to select her frame for her senior thesis film, "Stuck" (2025).(Submitted)
Cristian "Chico" Peña directs a staged fight scene in their senior thesis film, "WYA" (2025) (Submitted)
Wade Yates directs his lead actors in his senior thesis film, “The Sound of Love.” (Submitted)
Tayjon Bumphus directs his cast and crew on his senior thesis film, "Don't Talk About It" (2025). (Submitted)
Bee Lacombe, director of photography of the senior thesis film, "Stickum" (2025), highlights her name on the camera slate.(Submitted)
The Western Kentucky University Film Festival has been recognizing the talent and hard work of student filmmakers for 30 years.
The festival, which was founded by professor and independent filmmaker Cory Lash, will debut for the first time this year as the White Squirrel Film Festival.
Thursday through Saturday, the event will feature 50-plus short films created during the academic year by WKU film students.
“The students will get to experience and see audiences watching their final product in an actual theater,” said Shaina Feldman, assistant professor of film and BA film advisor at WKU’s School of Media and Communication. “Filmmaking is challenging and difficult, but at the end of the journey, it’s completely worth it.”
Feldman said there are 33 senior filmmaking students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts programs, and all of them wrote and directed films in the festival, with many of them receiving grants “which is quite a big deal.”
These student pitched their films a year ago in front of film academia and personnel. They each pitched two films and one of those films was selected for development.
According to Feldman, the process for the seniors involved more work and time than what was required of the other students. Writing took place in the summer and fall and the scripts were refined in the fall. Producing took place in the fall and spring, leading to the premiere, which will take place at The Capitol on Saturday.
Red Carpet photos will be taken at 6 p.m., with film screenings beginning at 7 p.m.
Works of third year film students will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at Regal Stadium 12.
“Imagine seeing your film on a screen that big,” Feldman said. “It’s a really big deal for these students.”
Works of second year film students will be shown at 6 p.m. Friday at Jody Richards Hall on WKU’s campus.
The festival, whose new name is “an ode to a legend, the white squirrel,” will feature a wide variety of films, including the first-ever musical, “The Sound of Love,” one of the senior thesis films.
Other thesis films include “Harvest of Horrors,” a slasher homage to the area’s John Carpenter roots; “The Testimony of Sir Gareth,” a dark medieval fantasy; “Don’t Talk About It,” a gritty supernatural crime thriller; “WYA,” a surreal coming-of-age film set in a trailer park; and many others.
“There’s something for everyone,” Feldman said. “The festival is a strong beacon for artists and creatives across the region to come together, premiere their works and share their art with the community.”
Tickets can be purchased online at wkufilm.com or at the door and are $5 for Thursday and Friday and $10 for Saturday’s event.
I am originally from Owensboro and graduated from Owensboro High School. In 1994, I received a degree in print journalism from Murray State University. I have lived in Bowling Green and have worked at the paper since I graduated.
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