IES Abroad Student Stories on the Big Screen

We figured there's no one better to tell the story of study abroad than our phenomenal students, so in 2014 we launched our Study Abroad Film Festival (the first in the industry of its kind!), which asks students to capture the spirit of study abroad—both what it meant to them, and how it redefined their world.

Over the past six years, 500+ student films have put us on the edge of our seats, demonstrating the transformative power of study abroad and the creative abilities of IES Abroad students.

Year after year we are awed by how thoughtful and talented our student filmmakers are. From poignant music videos to compelling documentaries to humorous reenactments, our students stop short of nothing to creatively depict their experiences from abroad.

Grab a comfy seat, give these films a watch, and get inspired about study abroad. 

2023 Film Festival

After a total of 1,400+ votes were cast by the public, Sami Stidham from the University of Wisconsin - Madison took home our Grand Prize for her film Take the Goggles Off, created about her experience studying abroad with us in Barcelona, in front of a crowd of 300+ study abroad lovers and friends!

Discover the 2023 Film Festival

Sami Stidham solo shot
“Going abroad is a fantastic opportunity, and people often do and see incredible things that highlight what it is to be alive. However, while I was abroad, I learned to look for these "life highlights" in the mundane daily moments as well. Wouldn't it be wonderful to live a life of ecstasy? ”
Sami Stidham • University of Wisconsin - Madison • IES Abroad Barcelona

2022 Film Festival

For the first time in two years, we rolled out the red carpet for our Film Festival in-person at a brand new location, VenueSIX10 in downtown Chicago, on October 12th—all in benefit of IES Abroad scholarships. Zeke Winitsky (Penn State University • IES Abroad Berlin - Language & Culture, Summer 2022) took home the Grand Prize for the 8th annual Study Abroad Film Festival for his film Coming to Berlin.

Discover the 2022 Film Festival

Student headshot
“In making this film, I meditated on my role as a Jew in America and in Europe. I wanted to illustrate my inner conflict and bring my personal dilemma to life.”
Zeke Winitsky • Penn State University • Berlin – Language & Culture

2020 Film Festival

After a total of 1,260 votes were cast by the public, It was announced that the Grand Prize Winner of the 2020 Study Abroad Film Festival was If I Could Put Into Words by Kiubon Kokko, a Senior at Claremont McKenna College who studied abroad with IES Abroad in Nantes, France.

Discover the 2020 Film Festival

Headshot of Kiubon Kokko
“I ate a lot of food in France. From the crepe Loïc made me, to the wraps Vianney made for me and my friends. But if there’s one thing I learned while I was in Nantes, France is that it’s not about where you eat, or even what you eat, it’s about who you eat with. The company is always so much more worth it.”
Kiubon Kokko • Claremont McKenna • Nantes – French Language Immersion & Area Studies

2019 Film Festival

Chase Devens and David Smith’s film Les Cinq Mois (The Five Months) took home the $1,500 Grand Prize. Their creative short is a delightful look at the less-than-delightful things that can sometimes occur when you study abroad (and how it all somehow ends up better than OK).

Discover the 2019 Film Festival

Headshot of David Smith
“This film tells the unexpected tales of his semester abroad and his growth from these events.”
Chase Devens & David Smith • University of Wisconsin-Madison • Paris – Business & International Affairs

2018 Film Festival

From 96 record-breaking submissions to 18 semi-finalists, our international jury selected their top 3 films for a month of public voting. More than 2,000 votes later, Philip Baites took home the Grand Prize award for his film Tangier to Casablanca during an exciting and inspiring Film Festival celebration at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. 

Discover the 2018 Film Festival

philip_baites_during_qa_ies_filmfest_theatre-43_0
“Featuring a train ride, Chefchaouen (the 'Blue City'), Rabat, the Sahara Desert, cameos by two sweet neighbor girls, my Arabic professor, and my precious host mother, Doha, as the central character, 'Tangier to Casablanca' is a story of pain, joy, longing, and journeys intertwining.”
Philip Baites • University of Tennessee at Knoxville • Rabat – Study Rabat

2017 Film Festival

After a record-breaking 93 total student film submissions and 2,000+ votes on Facebook, our Grand Prize award went to Ismael Byers and Kyle Arnold!

Discover the 2017 Film Festival

“The short film we have produced aims to showcase the perspectives of students who studied abroad in Santiago, Chile this semester asking them ‘Why they studied abroad’ and their plans after... The question ‘Why abroad?’ hoped to gain responses that suggested personal growth, change or enlightenment as we explain that study abroad is not always what one expects.”
Ismael Byers & Kyle Arnold • Hope College & Ithaca College • Santiago – Politics, Social Justice & Language

2016 Film Festival

After 2,000+ votes in just five days’ time, the award of Study Abroad Film Festival Grand Prize Winner went to Even in Europe… by Jordan Cain for his light-hearted, and smile-filled dance video across Europe.

Discover the 2016 Film Festival

“These are the highlights of my semester studying abroad in Europe! I took a camera with me everywhere I went and danced, walked, and had fun hanging out in front of the what I thought was beautiful and unique to the city.”
Jordan Cain • Indiana University • Vienna – Music

2015 Film Festival

From 45 submissions, to 19 semi-finalists- only 3 jury selected films went live for public vote on our Facebook page. After over 1,000 votes, the award of Study Abroad Film Festival 2015 Winner went to It's Okay by Kyle Rodriguez.

Discover the 2015 Film Festival

“'It's Okay' is a reflection on the way that this experience humbles us by making each of us hyperaware of our faults and insecurities.”
Kyle Rodriguez • Occidental College • Buenos Aires

2014 Film Festival

From 54 submissions to 19 semi-finalists, the jury selected their top 3 films for public vote on our Facebook page. More than 4,000 votes later, the award of Study Abroad Film Festival 2014 Winner went to East of Here by Alexa Penton.

Discover the 2014 Film Festival

“'East of Here' showcases the spirit of study abroad in that it challenges the viewer to look deeply into the fabric of a very foreign country and emerge, hopefully, with their perceptions and opinions redefined.”
Alexa Penton • University of Mississippi • Beijing – Language Intensive

Amy Ruhter McMillan headshot
“The IES Abroad Film Festival gives students a platform to share their authentic, life-changing, global experiences through their own voices.”
Amy Ruhter McMillan • Senior Associate Vice President of Marketing & Founder of the IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival

Join the Study Abroad Film Festival

a student takes a photo of the ocean on the beach in Barcelona