This Semester

The Azores, a remote Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic, are known for their volcanic landscapes, lush green pastures, and rich cultural traditions. Shaped by European and maritime influences, the islands preserve their heritage through storytelling, festivals, and music.

Central to Azorean music is the viola da terra, or “viola of the land,” a traditional stringed instrument with ten or twelve strings. Its warm, resonant sound has accompanied folk songs and celebrations for generations, reflecting the islands’ history, resilience, and deep connection to the land. Check out our socials and blog to follow our journey to the Azores!

The Program

Past Locations

The Producing the Documentary course has taken students all over the world including:

    • Spain
    • Cuba
    • Curaçao
    • Brazil
    • Puerto Rico
    • Hawaii
    • France
    • Cape Cod
    • And more!

This class prides itself on telling stories that matter so click here to head to our Past Docs page and discover the people and places students have discovered over the years. Our award-winning documentaries can also all be viewed on Youtube.

Awards

The Cooper: Crafting the Soul of The Cask

    • Award Winner: Best Shorts Competition – Documentary Short, June 18, 2024
    • Selected: SA Film San Antonio Film Festival – Food Films Category, July 30, 2024
    • Winner: FilmArte Festival – Student Documentary
    • Selected: Tennessee International Indie Film Festival, August 30, 2024
    • Selected: Chico Independent Film Festival, September 23, 2024
    • Selected: Valencia Indie Film Festival (VALÈIFF), July 26, 2024

For the Love of Food: Pour l’amour de la Cuisine

    • Selected: Wild & Scenic Film Festival – Student Films, November 13, 2023
    • Selected: Oceanside International Film Festival – Student Films, January 7, 2024
    • Selected: Spotlight Documentary Film Awards – Documentary Short, January 9, 2024
    • Selected: American Conservation Film Festival – Student Conservation Short, January 31, 2024
    • Selected: Atlanta Docufest – Documentary Short, February 21, 2024
    • Selected: SAFILM San Antonio Film Festival – Food Films Category, June 14, 2024

Tide to Table: The Remarkable Journey of Oysters

    • Finalist: Seaside Sustainability Film Festival – Massachusetts Area Filmmakers, September 9, 2022
    • Selected: Ridgefield Independent Film Festival – Environmental Short, March 15, 2023
    • Selected: Ocean City Film Festival – Documentary Short, December 16, 2022
    • Selected: Mystic Film Festival – Student Short Film, August 8, 2022
    • Selected: New York Lift-Off Film Festival – Short Documentary Film, June 23, 2023

Bee Aware

    • Award Winner: Best Shorts Competition – Documentary Short, June 14, 2021
    • Selected: Nature Without Borders International Film Festival – Environmental, June 6, 2021
    • Selected: Frozen River Film Festival – Short Documentary, November 30, 2021

Hawaii: Living on the Edge in Paradise?

    • Semifinalist: New York Cinematography Awards (NYCA) – Best Doc Cinematography, Best Doc Film, May 31, 2020
    • Selected: Frozen River Film Festival – Short Documentary, November 1, 2019
    • Selected: Best Shorts Competition – Documentary Short, June 17, 2019
    • Selected: Roma Cinema DOC – International Documentary (60 min or less), January 31, 2020
    • Selected: Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions – Short Documentary, June 10, 2019

Puerto Rico: Hope in the Dark

    • Award Winner: Spotlight Documentary Film Awards – Documentary Features, June 27, 2018
    • Selected: Rincon International Film Festival – Short Film, March 20, 2019
    • Selected: Best Shorts Competition – Documentary Short, June 18, 2018
    • Selected: Miami Independent Film Festival – Feature Documentaries, June 6, 2018

Ridge to Ranch to River to Reef: Florida’s Conservation Connections

    • Award Winner: Spotlight Documentary Film Awards – Documentary Shorts, June 27, 2018
    • Honorable Mention: Accolade Global Film Competition – Documentary Short, November 27, 2017
    • Selected: A2F2 Wild and Green Shorts Film Festival – Green Shorts, April 17, 2018

Cuba’s Crossroads: Hope, Rock, and [R]Evolution

    • Award Winner: Best Shorts Competition – Documentary Short, April 3, 2017
    • Award Winner: Accolade Global Film Competition – Documentary Short (Student), September 5, 2016
    • Award Winner: Spotlight Documentary Film Awards – Documentary Shorts, December 22, 2016
    • Selected: VOB Film Festival – Documentary, June 30, 2017
    • Selected: Cinema New York City – Documentary, August 28, 2017
    • Selected: YoungFilmmakers – Student Short Film, September 16, 2016
    • Selected: NYC Short Documentary Film Festival – Short Documentary, March 16, 2017

Curaçao’s Coral Challenge – Reviving the Rainforests of the Sea

    • Award Winner: The Shorts Film Awards – Best Doc Short Film, September 30, 2015
    • Award Winner: John Muir Wildlife Film Festival – Student Wildlife Film of the Year, February 26, 2016
    • Selected: Wildlife Conservation Film Festival – Short Film Entry, August 5, 2015
    • Selected: Best Shorts Competition – Documentary Short (Student), July 6, 2015
    • Selected: Accolade Global Film Competition – Documentary Short (Student), June 15, 2015
    • Selected: Cine Campus – International Short Documentary, January 26, 2016

Green Vs. Gold: Brazil’s Race to Balance Its Sports-Fueled Tourism Boom

    • Award of Merit: Accolade Global Film Competition – Documentary Feature (Student), September 15, 2014
    • Selected: Student Art Festival – College Documentary, April 30, 2015

Viva la Tortuga

    • Finalist: BLUE 2014 Film Festival – Honorable Mention
    • Selected: Village of Brewster Film Festival – Documentary Category, August 2013
    • Selected: Wildlife Conservation Film Festivals – Documentary Category, May 2013

Battle Behind the Bottle: A Film on the Cork Question

    • Bronze Reel Award: Media Communications Association International – 44th Annual Media Festival (Student Work)
    • Selected: Douro Film Festival, 2012
  • Selected: River Film Festival – Directors of the Future Showcase, 2012

The Life of an American Ambassador: The Netherlands

    • Best in Documentary Category: Indie Short Film Competition, 2010

Service Learning: Beyond the Classroom

  • Finalist Award: The New York Festival, 2000

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