Our department hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year. We also love to share news about our students and alumni.

Invisible Beauty

We presented this stunning documentary starring Bethann Hardison, a trailblazing African American model and activist, that tells her story and the story of representation and diversity in the fashion industry on April 19. Co-directors Bethann Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng (Dior, I Halston) conducted a Q&A following the screening.

Dr. Kirsten Moana Thompson interviews Bethann Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng

The film was presented by Dr. Kirsten Moana Thompson as part of her work as the Theiline Pigott-McCone Endowed Chair, 2022-2024.

Bethann Hardison in trailer for film, Invisible Beauty

Watch the trailer here.

Ha’ahae Auwae-Dekker, '22

Ha’ahae Auwae-Dekker, a Flaherty Fellow was featured in a roundtable with other fellows in the prestigious series curated by her and other indigenous artists in NYC.

Seattle Film Faculty appear on red carpet at Tasveer Film Festival Premiere

Dr. Kirsten Moana Thompson and Dr. John Trafton appeared on behalf of the Film and Media Department at the Tasveer (South Asian Film Festival) Oct 12 on the red carpet. Seattle University is an official sponsor of the Tasveer Film Festival. The opening night featured the premiere of the Sri Lanka film "Munnell" (Visakesa Chandrasekaram, 2023) with the filmmaker in attendance.

John Trafton and Kirsten Moana Thompson on red carpet at film festival

Seattle University student honored for Hispanic Heritage Month and Leadership

Film and Media Major Isabella Trevino was honored in recognition of her creation of “Bella’s Room Mental Health Resource Center” which is a special room on the Veteran’s Memorial Campus for students experiencing mental health issues, and has inspired high schools elsewhere to create “Bella’s Rooms”. Her image included among eleven Hispanic leaders on an RTA Corpus Christi bus wrap for her contributions to the community.

Isabella Trevino receives award

National Film Festival For Talented Youth 2022

The National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) is a great opportunity for Seattle University students to watch films and submit their work. In 2022, numerous SU Film Studies alum and current students' films were selected to be a part of the festival.

Student with film festival awards

Ha-aheo Auwae-Dekker ('22)

Ha'aheo's film Malihini (produced as part of an SU class) was chosen to screen as part of the festival's prestigious Closing Night program. 

Barb Hoffman ('19)

Barb's winning music video, Rainy Days and Crooked Sheets, led to her selection by festival funder Scan Design Foundation, to participate (with full financial support) in a week-long young filmmakers' intensive at TheNextFilmFestival, held in Norway in August 2022.

Her film, What We See in the Clouds, received an Audience Award for the Connected by More category presented by the AFI Conservatory.

Hailey McGill ('21)

Hailey's film, Ode 2 Embarrassment, won an audience award at the festival.

Mary Lawrence ('21)

Mary's film, the waiting room, (produced as part of an SU class) screened at the festival.

"Ocean’s Arrival"

Seattle University Film and Media alums, Barb Hoffman (’19) and Suzanne McAuley (’21), both recently worked on a film, a 60-minute psychological drama called "Ocean's Arrival." Suzanne was the Director of Photography on the project and Barb was the Gaffer. They express their appreciation of the project as well as the opportunity to grow through the process and connect with incredible people. "Ocean's Arrival" screened at SIFF Uptown.

Gabby Robinson's Earth Talk

Gabby (Environmental Studies and Film Studies) found the perfect connection between these fields through an internship with the Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability (CEJS) at Seattle University. Her year-long internship was client-based and allowed her to grow both personally and creatively. She explored her different interests while playing a major role in SU's 2022 Earth Month. Her film "OUR HOME?: What is Home? ft. Gabriella Robinson" screened at the 2022 Earth Talks.

Composite of film poster and photo of Gaby Robinson