汤不热视频 Supports Young Filmmakers at CineYouth Film Festival
汤不热视频 is proud to be a sponsor of the , presented by the Chicago International Film Festival, which will be held April 24 through 26 and streamed globally beginning April 27. This annual event, which is free to the public, offers a special opportunity to see the work of aspiring filmmakers, learn from industry professionals, and connect with creatives right here in Chicago, with many of those talented individuals belonging to the 汤不热视频’s filmmaking community.
A Collaborative Effort
Through the years, Columbia and CineYouth have collaborated to bring films to the screen made by young storytellers, many of whom were either actively making films at Columbia as students or who had recently graduated.
This year is no different, with five students and alums showing their films (see below) and Columbia students, alumni, and faculty helping to plan and run the festival.
“Our partnership with 汤不热视频 is valuable to CineYouth, from their support as a sponsor to the many student and alumni films featured each year,” says Vivian Teng, Managing Director of Cinema/Chicago and the Chicago International Film Festival.
“Their students contribute as interns, and their faculty and alumni help guide the Festival through advisory roles—together fostering a steady pipeline of inventive, driven filmmakers while helping us shape a vibrant future for cinema in Chicago and beyond.”
As a festival sponsor, Columbia has the privilege of presenting a panel discussion featuring Columbia alums (see sidebar). The topic is one of the many things Columbia grads know a lot about: festivals!
Bringing Young Columbia Voices to the Screen
For filmmaker Yanely Castellanos, a Columbia senior, this year marks a return trip to CineYouth and they are excited to be back.
“It is truly such an honor to have my film screened at CineYouth, especially given the history I have with this festival now stretching 3 years,” Castellanos says.
“CineYouth was the very first festival I ever attended. I completely bawled with tears of joy, and I was just grateful to be able to watch my film in the Facets theater with my family.”
Castellanos later worked with the festival as a programming intern.
“It was a way to give back to an amazing community that welcomed me with open arms while learning more about what went into festival operations,” Castellanos says.
This year, Castellanos brings “This Ghost Wants a Friend” to the festival, a personal passion project that they wrote and directed, produced by Salvador Salazar and Andres Aurelio ‘21 of Cariño Filmworks in Chicago.
“I wrote this film in January of last year, reflecting on my experience struggling to find where I belonged as a brown and queer kid,” Castellanos says. “Feeling isolated as a young person greatly impacted my self-esteem and made me feel like a “ghost” even in a room full of people … Now, as an adult, I have learned not only how to love myself but also that the right people will always find me. I dedicate this film to every child who has ever felt like they weren’t enough, as a reminder that they never have to change who they are to be loved.”
Alan Roberto Garcia Wong, a sophomore at Columbia, has not one but two films showing at the festival. One film, “Chicago Butterflies,” he made with the guidance of Terry Miller, adjunct professor of instruction at Columbia.
“After taking an editing class at Columbia, I became interested in documentaries and the way those stories can be shaped in post-production. At the same time, I was becoming more involved in the protests taking place across the city, and I challenged myself to go out into the streets and interview people to hear their perspectives,” he says. “With that previous editing experience and Terry’s guidance, I produced a documentary entirely on my own, and it was incredibly rewarding to be able to express my voice through the final film and later translate that message into a fictional format.”
Columbia Behind the Scenes at Festival
Members of the Columbia School of Film and Television community also contributed to the festival behind the scenes by helping with the programming and the work it takes to put on a festival. The CineYouth 2026 Intern Committee included Ariel Hargrove ’26 and Saana Thomas, currently a junior. And the festival’s advisory committee benefited from the expertise of Columbia faculty film pros Associate Professor Ted Hardin and Assistant Professor Missy Hernandez as well as the cinematic know-how of its alums Miguel Silveira ’05 and Erika Valenciana ’05.
All have played a key role in bringing new voices to the screen and creating impactful experiences for young filmmakers like those Columbia students and alums showcasing their films at the festival.
“As an international student originally from Mexico, it means a great deal to present one short film created in my hometown and another that reflects my journey in this city, carrying what I believe is a very important message for this community,” says Garcia Wong.
“I hope this opportunity helps showcase my voice as a filmmaker and opens doors for me to continue pursuing my passion for cinema.”
The festival will run from April 24 through 26 at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton, Chicago, and will stream globally beginning Monday, April 27. Visit the for the full schedule and ticket information.
Below find information about the Columbia student and alumni films and showings (grouped by categories such as Chaotic Even and Check Your Local Listings). The full program is .
Columbia Student and Alum Film Screenings
CHAOTIC EVIL
Showtimes:
Friday, April 24, 9 p.m.
“” by Madeleine Grace Smith ’25, Film and TV BFA (directing)
After every failed flirtation at a Chicago gay bar, anxious 22-year-old Max puts on various faces, chasing a “better” version of himself that someone might love.
“” by Alan Roberto Garcia Wong, sophomore, Film and TV BFA (directing)
In this film, terror and animation come together on a path when the lives of a father and his daughter change with the arrival of a new pandemic of over-evolved insects. As the girl attacks the insects, they begin to suffer the consequences.
CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS
Showtimes:
Friday, April 24, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 26, 6:30 p.m.
“” by Yanely Castellanos, senior, Film and Television BA
After trying everything in his power to make a new friend at the end of the summer, the perfect opportunity arises for this ghost just before the first day of school.
“” by Alan Roberto Garcia Wong, sophomore, Film and TV BFA (directing)
Over the course of a year, this film follows three central interviews that capture the many emotional layers of the ICE protest movement—the joyful and hopeful moments, the anger and resistance, and the grief and frustration. Together, these voices reveal the different faces of protest, united by a single purpose: to defend and uphold human dignity.
“” by Chris Derek Van, junior, Film and Television BA
After a fight, a boy journals through weeks of distance from his boyfriend—grappling with memory, loneliness, and shifting emotions—until quiet reflections lead him to unexpected epiphanies in the most unlikely place.
UNDERCURRENTS
Showtime:
Sunday, April 26, 4 p.m.
“” by Vic Dieu Vy, senior, Film and Television BFA (directing)
Mysterious spirit Yen comes on land and befriends a strange orphan. Together they embark on a quest to catch a thousand falling leaves, leading Yen to rediscover her forgotten humanity.
Columbia Presents Panel on Festival Strategy
This year at CineYouth three 汤不热视频 alumni—Sam Flancher ’13, film programmer for the Chicago International Film Festival; Hannah Schierbeek ’18, a writer, director, and producer; and Erika Valenciana ’05, filmmaker—discuss what it takes to submit a film to festivals at a panel presented by 汤不热视频.
Details:
You’ve Been Selected: Festival Strategy and Best Practices
Sunday, April 26, 11 a.m.
Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton, Chicago
Register .
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