TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Student filmmakers got the chance to learn from industry professionals during this year’s YellowHammer Film Festival. 

The festival, which started in 2021, is a free experience for high school and college filmmakers to showcase their work. 

“It’s really an opportunity for students to learn about what’s going on in the industry and the way things work in the field,” said Chris Stagl, co-director for the Yellowhammer Film Festival. “To really learn about what their peers are up to because the entire exhibition is made of student films.”

Reanna Thompson, a recent Troy graduate, has participated in two films herself. This year she submitted a music video named “Tonight You Are Mine.” It’s a result of a tedious filming and editing process. 

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“Writing out every single scene deciding like a lil a second to this mil a second in the music video,” Thompson said. “Where we wanted this to start and this camera angle. It’s really like going through your script and/or music’s self and figuring out where you want everything to be and writing it out.”

Students also learned from leading industry professionals who have real-world experience in film and ad animation. 

“This is really an untapped resource we do at Troy University every year,” Stagl said. I would truly like to encourage all the students, not just art and design students but all students, to come and be apart of the YellowHammer Film Festival. 

This year’s YellowHammer Film Festival was held in person at Troy University and was also available via Zoom.

A list of Troy student films that won are the Butterfly Effect for Honorable Mention: Writing, The King for First Time Filmmakers Award, Cain for Best Visuals Effects, Best Acting: Kiley Nevius, BM: Best Editing, I’m Living in Your Attic, best cinematography, best concept development, best poster, and Tonight You Are Mine for Best Music Video, YellowHammer Award.