29 films selected for third annual WIFI Film Festival

The Department of Mass Media along with its partners and sponsors will play host to the 2022 WIFI Film Festival April 29-May 1.

The Washburn community can enjoy the films in the Rita Blitt Gallery, which is connected to White Concert Hall, but films will also be shown at the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library and Arts Connect in NOTO.

Among the films selected for the 2022 WIFI Film Festival are nine created by current Washburn students or recent alumni. These films will be shown from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Friday, April 29 at the Rita Blitt Gallery and the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library.

To learn more about the festival, visit washburn.edu/WIFI.

Students and alumni in the Department of Mass Media enter their work in the 2022 WIFI Film Festival. Nine short films were selected.

Washburn Student & Alumni Films

  • “Pro Play” Joshua Grimmer
  • “Reawakening” alumna Darria Dennison
  • “L’Appel Du Vide” Hayden Kalp & Derek Blanchard
  • “Furever Love” Derek Blanchard & Jerron Merritt
  • “Abduction” Westen Smith and Cauy Rokey
  • “First Game An NEK Documentary”  Andrew Mercer
  • “Peephole” Victor Ramirez, Francesca Kelley, Anna Fifer
  • “Parallel Universe” Rajendra Bista, Taylor Province
  • “Death is Knocking” Mariah Rollwagen & Andrew Mercer

Friday, April 29 Film Schedule & Details

Documentary Shorts (11 a.m. – 11:31 a.m.)

land And flower (00:10:37): This film is a poetic acknowledgment of the native tallgrass prairie, an emergent benediction, and a call to the conservation of this rare and endangered ecosystem.

Director: David Wayne Reed

Writer: Megan Kaminski

Producer: David Wayne Reed

Country of Origin and Filming: United States

Key Cast Members: Jane Booth

Language: English

“Hellbender In Blue” (00:19:24): From New York to Appalachia, the two-foot long eastern hellbender salamander is an indicator species of our river health. The population has declined noticeably since the early 1980s. taking place in the Blue River Watershed of Southern Indiana, this film shares the story of a state-wide effort to improve the environment for our slimy friend and the water for us all.

Director: Katelyn Calhoun

Other Credits: Editor: Kayla Woodward; Director of Photography: Jd Schuyler; Animation: Brain twins

International Documentary Shorts (11:35 a.m. -12:30 p.m.)

“Pacing The Pool” (00:08:29): A tiny glimpse into the extraordinary life of Richard Pace. A different approach to life might have seen him crushed under the weight of the physical and mental stresses he has been through since he was a child, however, healing waters have helped him rise above it all!

Director: Radheya Jegatheva

Writer: Jay Jay Jegathesan, Radheya Jegatheva, Richard Pace

Producer: Jay Jay Jegathesan

Country of Origin and Filming: Australia

Key Cast Members: Richard Pace, Val Pace, Ryan Pace

Language: English

Other Credits: Director of Photography – Dop: Justice Goodrick; Music: Scott Buckley; Editor: Cal Mclean; Executive Producer: Ashleigh Nicolau; Assistant Director: Emma Thomason; Assistant Camera: Gareth Weston, Bayley Simonds; Gaffer: Matt O’sullivan, Gareth Weston; Sound Designer: Radheya Jegatheva; Colourist: Radheya Jegatheva; Production Assistant: Mirae Jang; Underwater Camera: Jay Jay Jegathesan; Bts Photographers: Jenina David, Jay Jay Jegathesan, Renee Wood-Gush, Gareth Weston“Hinges of Paint” (00:14:06): In an artistic residency mentored by the renowned plastic artist Ricardo Kolb, 11 artists were selected for an immersion in the universe of abstract expressionism. In this experience, described as a creative egregore, participants wander between the connection with the interior through painting and the importance of collective work.

“Hinges of Paint” (00:14:06): In an Artistic Residency mentored by the renowned plastic artist Ricardo Kolb, 11 artists were selected for an immersion in the universe of Abstract Expressionism. In this experience, described as a creative egregore, participants wander between the connection with the interior through painting and the importance of collective work.

Director / Producer: Luiz Henrique Vieira

Writer: Luiz Henrique Vieira, Vanessa Neitzke

Country of Origin and Filming: Brazil

Language: Portuguese

Other Credits: Director of Photography: Gabriella Boczkovski; Cinematography: Gabriella Boczkovski; Art Director: Gabriella Boczkovski; Camera: Kevin Pedrozo Osorio; Editing: Eduardo Augusto R. Cardozo, Luiz Henrique Vieira

“Tierra Del Fuego” (00:06:32): Film From An Exciting Expedition To Tierra Del Fuego In Chile And Argentina In November 2021.

Director/Writer/Producer: Oleksandr Lozytskyi

Country of Origin: Ukraine

Country of Filming: Chile

“Mirror”(00:25:00): “At the end of every street, there’s a mountain” Stendhal’s phrase is well known and every resident of the large region of Grenoble experiences it on a daily basis… city, mountain – this relationship shapes the region far beyond its landscape. through scientific observation, tourism and sporting activities, through the very living conditions of these spaces, we go beyond the limits that a first interpretation could give us, meaning partitioned, independent or even opposing spaces.  in addition, the issues raised by the dialogues of these two distinct geographical entities lead us to question the place of the human being in his environment and, therefore, question the primordial role of a social imaginary, witness of our relationship to the world. The observation of this territory not only then takes on a universal dimension but it also allows each person to look into a mirror, revealing the reflection of our society.

Director: Pierre Reynard

Writer: Vincent Rauzier, Marie-Christine Fourny, Pierre Reynard

Producer: Vincent Rauzier

Country of Origin: France

Country of Filming: France, Switzerland

Language: French

International Narrative Shorts Group 1 (12:40 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.)

“The Letter Room” (00:30:00): When A kind-hearted prison officer (Oscar Isaac) is transferred to the letter room, he soon gets involved in an inmate’s personal affairs.

Director / Writer: Elvira Lind

Producer: Sofia Sondervan

Country of Origin: United States

Key Cast Members: Oscar Isaac, Alia Shawkat

Language: English

Triangle(00:20:00): Triangle, the graduation film of Peter Engelmann from the Arts University Bournemouth, is a sci-fi pseudo-docu drama exploring the dark realms of the human mind. The story follows three strangers who – based on a 1997’s psychological experiment on the bonds of friendship – are about to become friends for life, separated only by 36 questions.

Director / Writer: Péter Engelmann

Producer: Peter Engelmann, Janka Gyapai

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Country of Filming: Hungary

Key Cast Members: Lili Vetlényi, József S. Kovács, Dániel Gaál, Lilla Kovács, Dávid Zoltán György, Simon Bazsányi

Language: Hungarian

Other Credits: Executive: Bournemouth Film School; Director of Photography: Csaba Bántó; Editor: Peter Engelmann; Production Design: Janka Szécsényi; Composer: Sam Dinley; Location Sound: Gábor Kerekes; Line Producer: Buzady Zhang Ge; 1st Ad: Milán Kovács; 1st Ac: Bence Bujdosó; 1st Ac/B Cam: Dávid Rözge; 2nd Ac: Bence Nagy-Berzsenyi; 3rd Ac/ C Cam: Szilárd Kovács; Dit: Márton Kovács; Costume & Hair & Make-Up: Lili Molnár; Vfx: Peter Engelmann; Colorist: Peter Engelmann; Sound Editing: Zoltán Kadnár; Script Supervisor: Blanka Kovács; Set Decorator: Zsombor Tű; Production Coordinator: Julie Tanner

“Bear” (00:10:00): Jack has a new girlfriend, but he’s still up to old tricks. 

Director: Nash Edgerton

Writer: Nash Edgerton, David Michôd

Producer: Nicole O’donohue

Country of Origin and Filming: Australia

Key Cast Members: Nash Edgerton, Teresa Palmer

Language: English

Narrative Shorts (1:15 p.m. – 1:56 p.m.)

“Professional Bully” (00:04:37)

Country of Origin and Filming: United States

Key Cast Members: Clint Mcelroy, Brooklyn Nelson

Language: English

Other Credits: Director, Writer, Producer, Editor: Jillian Carney Howell; Director of Photography: Kadin Tooley

Jim of Earth(00:12:19): A lonely man searches the stars for signs of extraterrestrial life.

Director / Writer: Justin Arwood

Producer: Justin Arwood, David Dunsmoor, Justin Cary

Country of Origin and Filming: United States

Key Cast Members: Joe Coffey

Language: English

Other Credits: Director of Photography: Justin Cary; 1st Ad: Derek Lowrey; Gaffer/1st Ac: David Dunsmoor; Key Grip: Max Frish; Utility: Andrew Claycomb; Sound Engineer: Neil Bontrager; Boom Op: David Youso; Behind The Scenes: Jonah Gibson; Composer: Kyle Cramb; Editor: Adam Williamson; Colorist: Brian Singler; Post Audio + Sound Design: Brad Nyght, Eric Meyer

“Contingency” (00:08:17): Proud of the “Bible” that leads to success, a young college girl lives her daily life brutally to the precise second based upon it until an unexpected crisis completely throws her off.

Director / Writer / Producer: Eve Zhao

Country of Filming: United States

Key Cast Members: Meghan Garber

Language: English

“Spiderwebs” (00:14:55): Liz thought a night in a hot tub sounded fun, until her date starts acting strangely.

Director / Writer: Joni Mitchell

Producer: Joni Mitchell, Nicholaus James

Country of Origin and Filming: United States

Key Cast Members: Colin Kinnick, Heather Elaine

Language: English

Washburn Student and Alumni Films (2 p.m. – 3 p.m.)

“Pro Play” (00:08:39)

Director / Writer / Producer: Joshua Grimmer

Reawakening(00:04:46): In the midst of dealing with the side effects of her medication, a young woman is forced to confront the shadows she has been carrying.

Director / Writer / Producer: Darria Leigh Dennison

Country of Origin and Filming: United States

Key Cast Members: Darria Leigh Dennison

Language: English

“L’appel Du Vide” (00:05:48)

Director / Writer: Hayden Kalp

Producer: Derek Blanchard

“Furever Love” (00:05:50)

Director / Writer: Derek Blanchard

Writer: Derek Blanchard

Producer: Jerron Merritt

“Abduction” ​​(00:02:51): A Man Obsessed With Finding Proof of Alien Life Is In Astonished When It Finds Him First.

Director / Writer: Westen Rhea Smith

Producer: Cauy Rokey

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: United States

Key Cast Members: Levi Habiger

Language: English

“First Game An Nek Documentary”  (00:09:17): This documentary was made for an assignment in MM405 Documentary Filmmaking at Washburn University. In this film, NEK varsity boys basketball prepares for their first game of the season and discusses what the team’s goals are for their opening game.

Director: Andrew R Mercer

Country of Origin and Filming: United States

Language: English

“Peephole” (00:07:59)

Director: Victor Ramirez

Producer: Francesca Kelley, Anna Fifer

Country of Origin and Filming: United States

Key Cast Members: Bruce Gonzalez, Holly Foster

Language: English

Parallel Universe (00:05:50): A Young College Student Is Exposed To The Radiation That Leads Into The Parallel Universe.

Director / Writer: Rajendra Bista

Writer: Rajendra Bista

Producer: Taylor Province

Country of Origin and Filming: United States

Key Cast Members: Alexander James Faught

Language: English

Other Credits: Editor: Taylor Province, Rajendra Bista

“Death Is Knocking” (00:04:50)

Director / Writer: Mariah Rollwagen

Producer: Andrew Mercer

International Narrative Shorts Group 2 (3:05 P.M. – 5 P.M.)

“Censor of Dreams” ​​(00:17:54): Every night, the Censor And his team moderate Yoko’s dreams. Tonight nothing happens as planned.

Directors / Writers: Leo Berne, Raphaël Rodriguez

Producers: Charles-Marie Anthonioz, Mourad Belkeddar, Jean Duhamel, Nicolas Lhermitte

Country of Origin and Filming: France

Key Cast Members: Damien Bonnard, Yoko Higashi, Sylvain Katan, Alexis Rodney

Language: French

Elouise Lou ​​(00:23:10): Christophe often parks by the house of his 16-year-old daughter, who doesn’t know him. That day, Eloise storms out of the house. She sees Christophe, walks toward him, and asks him to give her a ride. In the car, she later tells him that she’s heading to her real father’s, whose existence she just learnt about…

Director / Writer: Marc Baradat

Producer: Marc Baradat, Vincent Toujas, Louise Hentgen

Country of Origin and Filming: France

Key Cast Members: Dorine Gomar, Raphael Magnabosco

Language: French

Other Credits: Music Soundtrack: Guillaume Lestage; Cinematographer: Vincent Toujas; Editor: Marc Baradat; Sound: Mathieu Schricke

When The Rain Sets In (00:17:00): Kenzie And Treyden, a couple who’ve been swept up in a whirlwind six-month romance, find themselves confronting a painful question: has their love story come to an end?  

Director/Writer/Producer: James Hughes

Country of Origin and Filming: United Kingdom

Key Cast Members: Florence Howard, Toby Sebastian

Language: English

Other Credits: Editor: Patrick J Don Vito; Composer: Jean-Pascal Beintus; Sound Designer: Greg Claridge

Helen At Dusk ​​(00:15:43): Helen is packing the contents of her flat. She does so elegantly, meticulously, smuggling her private sense of beauty into the labor. She has managed to tame her solitude, but her belongings provoke recollections, reminders of an unintended past, which give the twilight of her life a particular hue.

Director / Producer: Marco Joubert

Writer: Geneviève Guernier, Marco Joubert

Country of Origin and Filming: Canada

Key Cast Members: Marie Tifo, Pierre Curzi

Language: French

Other Credits: Cinematography: Marco Joubert; Editing: Marco Joubert; Sound design: Marco Joubert

The Woman From Bar Blue(00:14:30): The first encounter between a Palestine bourgeoisie family to their son’s girlfriend takes an unexpected turn.

Director / Writer / Producer: Jalal Masarwa

Country of Origin and Filming: Israel

Key Cast Members: Naheda Azzam Shorrosh, Rasia Awad, Mouna Hawa, Ala Dakka

Language: Arabic

Other Credits: Cinematographer: Ihab Zidani; Editor: Thekra Mkalde; Sound Recorder: Ibrahim Zaher; Sound Design: Vitaliy Grinshpun; Distributor: Asaf Yecheskel

Sin And Repent(00:07:35): A young man who lost his faith is coming to seek for forgiveness of his father on the eve of Yom Kippur.

Director / Director / Producer: Avi Ludmir

Country of Origin and Filming: Israel

Key Cast Members: Yehuda Grovais, Neoray Hadar

Language: Hebrew

Other Credits: Cinematographer: Avremi Vishedsky; Editor: David Shapiro; Sound Design: Shahar Noam Rolov; Music: Shahar Noam Rolov

“A Morsel of Love” (00:12:16): An old man’s monotonous days are mostly spent on a house’s rooftop facing an old city until he hears a soft voice singing a folk love song and curiously follows the sound.

Director: Helia Behrooz, Sana Norouzbaki

Writer: Sana Norouzbaki, Helia Behrooz

Producer: Helia Behrooz, Sana Norouzbaki

Country of Origin and Filming: Iran, Islamic Republic of

Key Cast Members: Mohammad Shisheforous, Azam Bayat

Saturday, April 30 Film Schedule
(11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Wifi Award Nominees

  • “Bear”
  • “Censor of Dreams”
  • “Eloise Lou”
  • “L’appel Du Vide”
  • “Pro Play”
  • “First Game An Nek Documentary”
  • “Parallel Universe”
  • “The Letter Room”
  • “Hellbender In The Blue”
  • “Pacing The Pool”
  • “Mirror”
  • “When The Rain Sets In”
  • “Tierra Del Fuego”
  • “land And flower”
  • “A Morsel of Love”
  • “Jim of Earth”
  • “Triangle”
  • “Sin And Repent”

Sunday, May 1 Film Schedule

Films At The Rita Blitt Art Gallery And Arts Connect (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

  • “Bear”
  • “Censor of Dreams”
  • “Eloise Lou”
  • “The Letter Room”
  • “Hellbender In The Blue”
  • “Pacing The Pool”
  • “Mirror”
  • “When The Rain Sets In”
  • “Tierra Del Fuego”
  • “land And flower”
  • “A Morsel of Love”

Films At The Topeka Shawnee County Public Library (Noon – 2 p.m.)

  • “Eloise Lou”
  • “The Letter Room”
  • “Hellbender In The Blue”
  • “When The Rain Sets In”
  • “Tierra Del Fuego”
  • “Land And Flower”
  • “A Morsel of Love”