When the credits rolled on the big screen of the Paramount Studios Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., an audience of hundreds issued enthusiastic applause for the five short films produced by University of Miami School of Communication Cinema students.

On May 23, 2013 The School of Communication presented the “Canes Film Showcase: New Motion Pictures from University of Miami Students,” an annual screening of UM’s top student films at the world-famous Paramount Studios. SoC alumni and industry brass were invited to see the creative work of a talented group of emerging filmmakers. The films originally premiered at the 2013 Canes Film Festival held May 3-5 at the Bill Cosford Cinema on UM’s Coral Gables campus.

“From comedies to dramas, action shorts, and more, the slate of films this year went above and beyond what you think of as a ‘student film,’ says Thomas Musca, a Department of Cinema faculty member who teaches screenwriting at UM. “We had an international program with students presenting films shot on location in China, and locally too.”

The filmmakers appreciated the opportunity to showcase their work to a broader audience and receive feedback.

“There’s nothing quite like seeing your film on a 70-foot screen with hundreds of people watching,” says UM alumnus Ronnie Khahil, B.B.A. ’98 and M.B.A. ’01, who is pursuing a graduate degree in Motion Pictures and is the director ofThe Meter Man of Le Moutrechon, a comedy showcased at the L.A. event. “It seemed that every moment in the film was somehow tied to my self-worth as an artist. When they enjoyed a moment, I felt that film was what I was meant to do; when a lull happened or a joke failed, I wished I could run out of the theater screaming ‘I’m a fraud’ and take up a more secure career as a tax accountant.”

The 2013 Canes Film Showcase in L.A. featured the following short films:

Co-written
Tensions collide between two actors as they struggle to write the best screenplay.
Andres Delgado – Director & co-editor
Danny Menendez – Producer, screenwriter & co-editor
Ernesto Prieto – Cinematographer

The Meter Man of Le Moutrechon
A despondent meter man’s life takes an unexpected turn when he meets an enigmatic girl who never pays her meter.
Ronnie Khahil – Director
Nick Katzenbach – Producer
Luke Fronefield – Screenwriter
Gabriel Cullen – Editor

Unidentified Flying Reality
It’s Ron’s birthday and all he wants to do is quit his job, but when his dog goes missing, he has an encounter that will make him rethink everything.
Shane Kinsler – Director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor

If You’re Serious
A rebellious 17-year-old girl decides to commit suiced along with two of her Internet suicide group partners in Fenghuang, the most beautiful town in China.
Zhi Li – Director & screenwriter
Producer – Qingling Liu
Screenwriter – Jian Ma
Editor – Noelis Marquez & Dongkyu Lee

Inverse Love
Hate is Inverse Love.
Xiao Hu Dino – Director, producer & screenwriter
Longlong Song – Producer
Wade Lee – Cinematographer
Editor – Zhang Dong

This event’s host committee which selected the films that screened at Paramount included UM alumni who are Hollywood hitmakers such as: David Nutter (“Game of Thrones,” “Entourage,” “The Pacific”) Michael M. Robin (“Longmire,” “Major Crimes,” “The Closer”), Cynthia Cidre (“Dallas”), Charles Vignola (Bruckheimer Films), and Juan Carlos Coto (“Nikita”, “24”).

At the event, they offered advice and networked with students, who are looking to reach the same level of success.