The School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) at the University of Arizona is celebrating another strong showing at the Student Production Awards, with student filmmakers earning six awards at the 2026 ceremony presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
TFTV students received a record 13 nominations across multiple categories. All six winning entries were senior thesis films that premiered at TFTV’s annual I Dream in Widescreen showcase.
Be Still, Boone, written and directed by Clinton Willis, earned three Student Production Awards:
- Best Director — Clinton Willis
- Best Long Form Fiction
- Best Actor — Logan Tyler Hall
The film stars University of Arizona alum Craig T. Nelson as an aging cowboy confronting his past. Hall plays the character in flashback scenes.
Additional TFTV winners were:
- Best Cinematography — Sean Leeman, The Exchange Rate
- Best Writer — Kaitlyn Liddicoat, Rebranding Bob
- Best Audio/Sound — Michael Staggers, They Wait
“Everybody in my class put in a lot of work and time, and it paid off,” said awardee Clinton Willis (BFA Film & Television ’26). “I’m so proud of this group! Sean picked up Best Cinematography, and every shot he framed showed how much care he put into it. Logan got Best Performance too, and honestly, watching him work, it’s not surprising, he brought so much to that role. But really, this is a reflection of the whole BFA Film class. It was a solid group of people who care about making films.”
Recognizing outstanding student achievement in production, the NATAS Student Production Awards are intended as an incentive for the continued pursuit of excellence by those studying media and journalism and to focus public attention on outstanding cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news and informational achievements by college students across Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and southeastern California.
The awards add to TFTV’s growing record of recognition at film festivals and competitions around the country. At TFTV, students receive strategic guidance on festival submissions and awards opportunities as they build audiences for their films and develop professional careers.