The LA Canes Film Showcase gives student filmmakers a chance to screen their work and connect with alumni and industry leaders.

By Claire Millisor

Each spring, a select group of University of Miami student filmmakers pack their bags to travel across the country for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the LA Canes Film Showcase.

The trip is centered around a screening of student films at Sony Pictures Studios, giving students an opportunity to present their work in front of industry professionals, University alumni and the Los Angeles creative community. This opens doors for students to form relationships that often lead to mentorship and real industry opportunities.

Rafal Sokolowski, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director of the Motion Pictures, M.F.A. program, emphasized the impact of the experience: “For many students, the Showcase offers students a chance to present their work in a truly professional and prestigious setting,” he said. “Los Angeles, the cinematic capital of the world.”

The moment on the big screen doesn’t happen overnight. These films are shaped by sweat, tears and late nights. For months, students spend time perfecting their films, revising scripts, reshooting scenes and refining edits frame by frame, preparing their work for its debut.

The LA Film Showcase began in 2005, as an extension of the long-running Canes Film Festival, which has celebrated UM student work since 1997. Each year, more than 100 films and 15 scripts are submitted to the festival. From there, a panel of jurors select the top projects. This year, 12 students were invited to LA to present eight films.

Sokolowski calls the Canes Film Festival “arguably one of the most exciting and film-packed events promoting student work in the world.”

Once in Los Angeles, students find themselves surrounded by a creative community who share their passion for storytelling. They spend several days meeting industry professionals and alumni who help them to understand what a future in the film industry could look like.

The trip also included exclusive visits with alumni working across major areas of film marketing and production, giving students a behind-the-scenes look at the industry. At Mob Scene, CEO Tom Grane introduced students to the world of entertainment marketing and trailer production. Alumnus Scott Mitsui, M.F.A. ’96, EVP at Mark Woollen & Associates, shared insights into creating major film campaigns. Students also received a Dolby Demonstration from alumnus Nate Jackson, B.S.C. ’14. These experiences highlight the strength and reach of the University of Miami’s alumni network.

Another memorable moment from the trip was meeting alumna and former showcase participant, Meg Lewis, B.S.C. ’14, who spoke about the realities of working in the film industry and led a tour of the Paramount Studios. Walking through the iconic lot helped students appreciate the studios history while picturing what their own future could look like.

Between studio tours at Warner Bros., the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Lightstorm Studios and multiple networking events, students are surrounded by opportunities to build their professional careers. Each stop offers a glimpse into the industry’s inner workings.

For student producer Larry Flores II, who graduated in the spring with an M.F.A. in Motion Pictures, the trip offered a moment he will never forget. “My favorite moment was screening How to be a Woman (directed by Nicky Gonzalez), the film I produced, at the Sony Studios. It was a great reminder of what the possibilities are not only for myself, but for the UM filmmakers and program.”

The impact of the event doesn’t end when the students land back in Miami. “We have had students make connections that later lead to jobs,” said Ed Talavera, Professor and faculty director of the Canes Film Festival. “The experience itself gives students a lot of knowledge from people working in the industry.”

What begins for students in the editing lab becomes something much bigger on a Los Angeles screen, a reminder of how far a story can go. For LA Showcase Students, it’s often the first step toward a future in film.