International StudentFEST

International StudentFEST

We are dedicated to supporting the growth of young talent in film and media production. These emerging filmmakers have the potential to shape the future of cinema as today’s aspiring student filmmakers evolve into tomorrow’s award-winning directors, visionary producers, and skilled videographers. As part of our commitment, we proudly present International StudentFEST. We take immense pride in spotlighting these filmmakers and amplifying their voices by exclusively dedicating this section within our festival to them.  It is our hope that ReadingFilmFEST inspires students to continue developing their skills and continue producing exceptional content.

This year, we also made a special effort to include local high school students through our Five Minute FilmFEST competition. The winners of that competition will be a part of our StudentFilmFEST screening!  

5 Minute FilmFEST Films:

is an exclusive regional film competition for high school students in Berks County, Pennsylvania.  All films must be original projects with a runtime of no more than 5 minutes. Included with the International Student Film block.

BCTC Blades

A sports promo for the BCTC Blades, part of the Reading Royals Youth League Hockey.

Director:  Victoria Metcalf
2:13 minutes

My Life With Diabetes

Animated story about a girl living with diabetes.

Director:  Megan Pasko
1:26 Minutes

You Are BCTC

A fast paced promotional video for Berks Career & Technology Center.

Director: Hannah Wojciechowsky
1:36 minutes

Congratulations to all of our student filmmakers. You are all winners!

International Student Film FEST films: 

Race Against Extinction

An engineering student meets a time-traveling dinosaur who recruits him to stop the extinction of mankind.

Director: Katie Collins, Sarah Simon
13:13 minutes

Fetch

While playing fetch, a boy’s dog disappears into an open sewer.   The boy follows after him, only to  learn they are not alone.

Director: Joaquin Soto
4:58 minutes

Frail Ground

A girl wakes up in an unfamiliar world, trying to understand how she got there and how to escape.

Director: Abby Tarpey
19:50 minutes

Pidgin Kaua’i Style

A documentary that explores the distinct dialect and accent differences of Hawaii Creole, also known as “Pidgin,” as spoken on the Island of Kaua’i. The film features four women who candidly discuss regional aspects of the language and share their personal experiences and stories about how speaking Pidgin is a source of pride for them and their community.

Director: Erica Byers
7:20 minutes

Dancer in the Mundanity

A dancer struggles with following her own dreams – and what others expect from her.

Director: Xiaotong Lin, Zirui Wang
20 minutes

Guiding Light

Student filmmaker India Mitchell, a teen growing up in the same town some thirty years after the infamous Polly Klass murder;  brings a fresh perspective to the legacy of this case.

Director: India Anne Mitchell
5 minutes

Perfect Casting

A skilled costume designer struggles to collaborate with an asocial creature actor who is scarily good at playing his monster character.

Director:  Autumn English
4:40 minutes

Home

Eve, personified as a house, establishes a connection with a man. Through subtle visuals, their relationship evolves, but neglect takes its toll, leading to unforeseen consequences. The film offers a cautionary glimpse, underscoring the significance of knowing your identity and the repercussions of losing that understanding.

Director: Wilandy Castelin
11:12 minutes