Student films to be showcased on WXXI-TV in effort to raise visibility for young creatives

Student filmmakers at Rochester Institute of Technology will have a new opportunity to strive for thanks to a collaboration between RIT and WXXI. RIT Shorts, a new, biannual series that will showcase student-made films, is set to premiere this month on WXXI-TV, a PBS-member station.

The first broadcast will feature three short films themed around sports. The films will air on WXXI-TV, and will stream live online, at 9 p.m. on July 12, and again at 4:30 p.m. on July 13.

"RIT Shorts will showcase the work of some of RIT's most impressive student filmmakers," says Todd McCammon, vice president of television at WXXI Public Media. "We are proud to offer these young producers a platform to share their films to a broader audience and for our viewers to be able to see the incredible talent that RIT is cultivating. We are excited that this will become a recurring series."

Linda Moroney, lecturer in RIT’s School of Film and Animation, was a key player in forming this new collaboration with WXXI. Moroney reached out to her contacts at the station to pitch the idea of broadcasting a handful of student films she watched develop over the previous academic year. Unbeknownst to her, Thomas Dooley, lecturer in RIT’s School of Communication and former television producer at WXXI, also reached out to the station with the same goal. The pair's efforts piqued the interest of producers at WXXI and resulted in the new RIT Shorts series.

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Max Alves

‘Back to the Ballpark’ documents the five days leading up to the Rochester Red Wings’ opening day at Innovative Field. The production team included first-year students Liam McCammon, Max Alves, and Dillon Sharp.

“I have been so impressed with the quality of the work that comes out of RIT’s programs and I really thought that a lot of the films deserved to be shown to an even wider audience,” said Moroney. “A fascinating element of student films is that it shows us what is coming next—it shows what young people are excited about and what stories they want to tell. We can learn so much from what they think is important enough to spend their time and resources on.”

WXXI will begin the RIT Shorts series by highlighting three short films:

Back to the Ballpark chronicles the heartwarming return of the Rochester Red Wings and their devoted fans as a new season kicks off at Innovative Field. It captures the joy and anticipation as players and supporters reunite after a prolonged hiatus. The production team includes first-year production students Liam McCammon, Max Alves, and Dillon Sharp.

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Georgia Pressley

'Falling Forward,’ produced by Georgia Pressley, explores the world of roller derby by telling the story of three local players at the Roc City Roller Derby.

Falling Forward, produced by Georgia Pressley, a fourth-year photojournalism student, follows the story of Pamela Tuety, Adele Long, and Lauren Ayes, who all found roller derby at different times. “It's almost like an addiction or something,” says Tuety. The documentary looks inside the lives of three of the players at the Roc City Roller Derby team and what makes the community unique.

Protect Our House, directed by Denna Alece-Dom, a fourth-year animation student, and produced by Michelle Snow, a fourth-year production student who is also pursuing an MBA, introduces viewers to three all-star players of the RIT Division 1 men’s hockey team. The mixed-media documentary shares how the unique hockey fan culture impacts their lives both as students and as players.

Go to the WXXI website for more information about how to watch RIT Shorts.