By Matt Chlastawa (BFF 2019; Bates Class of 2020) The goal of a film is to tell a story. Unfortunately, there is no point in telling a story if no one is willing to listen. To peak curiosity in an audience is an art. This is the goal of any marketing campaign, to promote stories…

By Abel Ramirez (BFF 2019; Bates Class of 2020) In many ways, planning a local film festival offers valuable insight into many aspects of running a small business, providing festival organizers with the opportunity to delve into whichever business aspects they may prefer. As I am extremely interested in the creative side of business, the…

By Perla Figuereo (BFF 2019; Bates Class of 2021) I like to think of myself as a person who pushes for diversity in everything I do. I like to believe that I think about intersectionality at all times because I am a person whose identity needs to be addressed and accepted as one that is…

By Ethan King (BFF 2019; Bates Class of 2021) The process of choosing the films that were shown at the 2019 Bates Film Festival produced conversations that were, for me, simultaneously the most fascinating and frustrating aspects of the class. This had nothing to do with my classmates, or Professor Cavallero, and everything to do…

by Maddie Fagundo (BFF 2019; Bates Class of 2020) After attending the first Bates Film Festival in the Spring of 2018, I was overcome with curiosity about how such a successful festival came to life in just a single semester, with a handful of students, and one professor driving the production. Just a year later,…

by Julia Gutterman (BFF 2019; Bates Class of 2020) The second BFF added a new element that was not present at the festival’s inaugural run; awards. Including awards as a part of the festival in 2019 was very exciting and brought about a lot of conversation in class surrounding the meaning of our awards and…

The Bates Film Festival will be sharing final papers written by students in the Film Festival Studies class that took place at Bates College in Fall 2019. These will be shared throughout 2020 and 2021 as we lead up to another Bates Film Festival in November 2021.