TUCSON, AZ (December 6, 2021) – The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) presents the 2021 edition of What’s Up, Docs, the annual showcase of short documentaries made by film and television students. Featuring twelve films that are current, newsworthy, poignant, funny, and sublime, the free screening will take place at The Loft Cinema on December 14, 2021 at 7pm, and simultaneously online on TFTV’s YouTube channel. This marks the first showcase of films made by TFTV students following the School’s recent ascent in The Wrap’s annual Top 50 Film School rankings.
Some of the films in the lineup include:
- Wonderful Worms, showcasing Tucson’s worm fanatics as they pursue the perfect compost, and featuring outstanding animation from the UA School of Art
- Something to Fear follows the journey of top basketball recruit Kennedy Brown as she battles the forces against her–as well as her own demons–as she makes her way to the top
- The Dunbar Effect reveals two generations of educators looking to preserve the history of one of Tucson’s formerly all-black schools
- The Piccolo Trombone follows student Zack Richardson on his comedic quest to understand where this curious instrument came from and why anyone would use it
- Double Standard looks at the glaringly different codes of conduct applied by male fraternities vs. female sororities on the UA campus and across the country
- The Sound brings the audience inside the studio of local songwriter Sophia Rankin as she brings a captivating new song to life.
TFTV Associate Professor Jacob Bricca, ACE leads the Documentary Production class and mentored the students: “The dedication shown by this year’s Documentary Production students has been really exceptional. They have explored the genius of the earthworm to problematic recruiting policies of national sororities, and everything in between. What’s more, they did this with incredible creativity and passion. I can’t wait for the public to see these films.”
The in-person screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers moderated by Loft Cinema Program Director Jeff Yanc. Space is limited. Total runtime of the program is approximately 120 minutes. Attendees should review The Loft Cinema’s safety protocols before arriving to the event.
What’s Up, Docs? is part of the inaugural Arizona Signature Series by Arizona Arts, a curation of some of the division’s most engaging fall programs.
The School of Theatre, Film & Television, a member of the Arizona Arts division at the University of Arizona, nurtures and develops outstanding artists and scholars via rigorous training and mentoring by internationally recognized faculty, high-level internship opportunities, industry-standard resources, and hands-on production experience. TFTV offers comprehensive training programs that aim to prepare students to succeed in a wide range of careers – in the industry, the arts, and higher education. Each year through Arizona Repertory Theatre productions, Next Performance Collective productions, and Film & Television screenings, students of TFTV are able to showcase their talents, tell compelling stories, and provide clear results of what happens in their classrooms and studios. TFTV’s Film & Television program regularly ranks in The Wrap’s “Top 50 Film Schools,” and the School’s Theatre programs regularly rank in Onstage’s “Top 30 College Musical Theatre Programs” and “Top 30 College Theatre Design & Tech Programs” making UA one of the country’s top institutions to study theatre, film and television. More at tftv.arizona.edu.
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PRESS CONTACT: Kerryn Negus
knegus@email.arizona.edu