Four students from MCS — Elias Martigon, Gelila Zeray, Meerae Lee, Zihan Zeng — and four from TFDP — Daniella Escobar, Jiahui Liu, Lance Mack, Natalie Guido — were selected from a pool of applicants to attend the Palm Springs ShortFest 2026. The Palm Springs International ShortFest is one of North America’s largest, uniting innovative and entertaining shorts from around the world. The festival ran from June 26-28, during which students had the opportunity to meet with filmmakers, discuss the industry, and watch many films.

“They were selected through an application process, based on their commitment to filmmaking, and demonstrated engagement with the program,” said professor and faculty chaperone Christophe Katrib. “Throughout the festival, they'll attend screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and networking events, giving them direct exposure to contemporary independent cinema and the people who make it. Besides the general ShortFest program, we have scheduled several exclusive meet-ups just between our group and attending industry professionals.”

Expenses for the students who attended were covered by the MCS and TFDP departments, including festival passes, meals, lodging, and travel. With no worry about these costs, the students were free to take advantage of the trip, connecting directly with professionals in the field.

“For students at this stage of their education, experiences like ShortFest and this mentored field trip are invaluable,” Katrib said. “They broaden their understanding of the art form beyond the classroom, expose them to a wide range of creative approaches and career paths, and help them begin building professional networks. Seeing films alongside conversations with directors, producers, programmers, and other industry professionals gives students a much clearer sense of how independent filmmaking functions in practice and what it takes to develop a sustainable career in the field.”