Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1533995
M OT I O N P I CTU R E S O U N D E D I TO R S 63 BIG SHOULDERS INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL ADDS AN AWARD FOR SOUND BY KOREY PEREIRA MPSE n March 7 and 8, 2025, DePaul University in Chicago hosted its annual Big Shoulders International Student Film Festival. Big Shoulders is dedicated to presenting the work of innovative student filmmakers from around the world. Admissions are open to all students at the post-secondary level. Big Shoulders is a front seat to the world's stories. It is their mission to promote diversity and inclusion by showcasing the work of emerging young voices and unique ways of storytelling. The festival began on Friday with a screening of filmmaker Joe Swanberg's early film, Hannah Takes the Stairs, starring Greta Gerwig and Mark Duplass in the DePaul CDM Theatre. Following the screening, DePaul faculty member James Choi lead an in-depth conversation with Joe Swanberg covering his filmmaking career. You could really tell the students were encouraged by Joe's scrappy approach to filmmaking. Joe recounts his entire cast and crew sleeping and filming in an apartment in Chicago. They had no permits and did what it took to make the films he wanted to make. It was also interesting to note that while he eventually began working more within the studio system, he still made films the way he did with no budget. Saturday was the big show. Big Shoulders chose the historic O MPSE Board member Korey Pereira presented the MPSE Excellence in Sound Award to Elis Rumma whose film Come Sit With Us also won the newly added Big Shoulders' 2025 MPSE Excellence in Sound Award.