New Directions Festival – School of Theatre, Film & Television

Join us in the Spring for the second annual New Directions Festival. The Festival showcases six new student-created, student-designed, and student-performed content, allowing BA students to tell their stories through voices that are uniquely their own.

The 2023 Festival comprises the following plays:

TRACKS by Jakob Carpenter, directed by Erika Brittain, dramaturgy by Yliana Mendoza
MEDDLING by Karina Cabrera, directed by Jakob Carpenter, dramaturgy by Yliana Mendoza
TORMENT by Cailan Compierchio, directed by Jess Scott, dramaturgy by Sophia Harrigan
NO ME QUEDA MÁS by Melanie Moreno, directed by Lisitte Mora, dramaturgy by Emma Wilkins
PAPERWORK by Kathryn Kulaga, directed by Karina Cabrera, dramaturgy by Emma Wilkins
CRYSTAL CLEAR by Jordan Buck directed by Taylor Swingle, dramaturgy by Sophia Harrigan

Students can attend this production for FREE. More information on the free ticket offer can be found here.

Get tickets to 'New Directions Festival'

Day	Date	Time	Notes
Friday	April 21, 2023	7:30 pm
Saturday	April 22, 2023	1:30 pm
Saturday	April 22, 2023	7:30 pm
Sunday	April 23, 2023	1:30 pm
Friday	April 28, 2023	7:30 pm	Post-Show Discussion
Saturday	April 29, 2023	1:30 pm
Saturday	April 29, 2023	7:30 pm
Sunday	April 30, 2023	1:30 pm

Production Sponsors

Marcia and John Orcutt

Sarah Astrowsky’s film REMEMBER OUR LEGACY has been officially selected to screen next month at the Hot Springs International Women's Film Festival, where it is also a Finalist in the Student Film category.

The story of REMEMBER OUR LEGACY is close to Sarah’s heart. The film is a tribute to her great-grandmother, Mania Lichtenstein, who survived unimaginable horrors during the Holocaust, and whose strength has shaped the lives of each subsequent generation of Sarah’s family. “My hope is that her story inspires viewers to recognize the power of resilience and the beauty of carrying forward those who came before us,” says Sarah.

The short film was created in TFTV’s Documentary Production Class and first debuted in December at the What’s Up Docs showcase. Congratulations Sarah!

Catch Sarah’s latest film THE DANCER, co-created with Sean Leeman, this week at Magic Hour! ... See MoreSee Less

6 hours ago

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IDIWS Sneak Peek: NOSTALGIATHON '99 by Cailan Compierchio. After losing their practice space, an inexperienced riot grrrl band's skills and friendships are tested as they attempt to throw an epic final show for their entire town.

"Going into this process, I knew I wanted to do something that was weird, funny, and featured strong female friendships (three phrases that also describe the past four years of my life here in Tucson)," reflected writer/director Cailan Compierchio . "Nostalgiathon '99 was conceived as a pastiche of 90s/early 2000s comedies, so a lot of those were huge influences. Stylistically, we were drawn to the aesthetics of skate videos and stoner buddy comedies. Narratively, we drew inspiration from large ensemble pieces of the time, like Clerks ('94), Dazed and Confused ('93), Slacker ('90), and Empire Records ('95). In terms of my broader career, the person who made me realize I wanted to be a writer was Tina Fey, and her work on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock."

Premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat! ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago

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IDIWS Sneak Peek: THE GRIT OF IT ALL by Alek Mendez. In 1988 Arizona, Detective James, a man struggling with past trauma, is assigned to investigate a grisly murder in “Las Sombras”, an abandoned western show town.

“Throughout my journey in film school, I’ve been drawn to narratives exploring complex human emotions and psychological themes. With ‘The Grit of It All,’ I wanted to harness those interests into something distinctly cinematic—a story about confronting trauma, guilt, and repressed emotion, layered beneath psychological horror. The film was more than just another assignment; it was an artistic pursuit where I could authentically showcase my voice and vision as a filmmaker,” says writer/director Alek Mendez.

Premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat! ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago

IDIWS Sneak Peek: PARALLEL LINES by Neylani Castro. Two strangers repeatedly cross paths without noticing, until a brush between them unveils the invisible thread of their intertwined fates.

“I’ve always been a firm believer that everything we live through and every person we meet has a purpose, nothing is ever a coincidence. The concepts of fate, in-yun, the invisible string theory, and past lives have always intrigued me. Friendships, romantic relationships, and the family you are born into all consist of fate,” reflects writer/director Neylani Castro. “My dad is from Caimanero, Sinaloa. He was invited by his cousin to come to this retreat in Nogales, Sonora - 9 hours from where he lived. There he saw my mom for the first time. My dad says he felt a pull, a sort of magnetism towards my mom. At the end of the first day the new members were asked to pick out of a bowl who will be their guide for the rest of the retreat. When my dad picked out the paper, my mom’s name was written on it. My parents were two parallel lines, and when the time was right their fates intertwined.”

Premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat! ... See MoreSee Less

IDIWS Sneak Peek: THE GLASS PLANET by Gaël Baup. A young astronaut defies all odds to search for his long-lost father on a perilous, uncharted glass planet—an unforgiving world where no one has ever returned, and where he must confront both the planet’s dangers and the haunting mystery of his father’s disappearance.

"It was one of my dream films to make since I was 10 years old ... It is the most ambitious project I have made so far, we got to travel with my crew to Page, Arizona and make our own space suit and shoot in amazing locations with a crew and cast of 4 people," says writer/director Gaël Baup.

The short film version of THE GLASS PLANET will be premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025 - a feature length version is currently in production! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat! ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

IDIWS Sneak Peek: PIZZA GUY RETURNS by Philip D. Summers. A timid pizza delivery guy unknowingly interrupts a cult meeting and must fight for his survival as interdimensional chaos ensues.

"'Pizza Guy Returns' is a remake of the first short film I ever made: 'Pizza Guy'. When I was 15, my high school friends and I made the original film in my dad's garage with an iPhone 6 and old Halloween decorations. I decided to screen the film at a party later that year, and to my complete surprise, my friends and parents loved it. And from that moment on, I have been working on honing my skills as a writer, director, costumer, props master, set designer, and even actor both independently and through my BFA degree here at the U of A. Before I was even accepted into the BFA program, I knew EXACTLY which film I would make as my thesis: Pizza Guy...Returns! With the script pulling thematic inspiration from actual life events that I have endured and through the extreme dedication and creativity of my team, I have been able to bring my dream to life," says writer/director Philip D. Summers.

Premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat! ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago