Five16 Film Festival

The Five16 Film Festival highlights student and alumni talent in filmmaking and storytelling by sharing their work with the Northwestern Community.

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What is the Five16 Film Festival?

The festival was named for Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before others….so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” It showcases the work of student filmmakers in the categories of comedy, drama, music video, documentary, and animation. Student films are judged by Northwestern faculty, alumni, and film professionals from around the country.

What originally started as a small film festival has grown into a community-wide event drawing over one thousand attendees (more than 1,500 attended the festival and watched our live stream online in 2023).

“This is a great opportunity for students to produce creative and engaging content and receive feedback from professionals in the industry,” said Ann Sorenson, MFA, professor of communication and festival director. “As the festival grows, so does the level of quality and professionalism in the films that the students are producing.”

The top films in each category are shown at the festival. Each film is required to be less than eight minutes in length and will be judged by a panel of experts and professionals in the film, television, and theatre industry.