July 14, 2020

University of Arizona Shifts to Digital Format for Entertainment Industry Event 'I Dream in Widescreen'

TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television presents the 15th edition of I Dream in Widescreen, the annual showcase of undergraduate thesis films celebrating a wide range of new filmmaking voices. This year, the event will include a series of sidebar conversations featuring industry professionals who are alumni of the School of Theatre, Film & Television.

The 2020 edition of I Dream in Widescreen will be presented on YouTube on Aug. 8 and 9. Films will compete for prizes awarded by this year's jury, which includes Austin Film Festival's film competition Director Rob Gonzalez, producer of the Emmy Award-winning series "After Forever" Allison Vanore and film critic and journalist Katie Walsh.

I Dream in Widescreen 2020 will feature conversations with notable alumni from across the entertainment field. Special guests include:

  • Scott Stuber, Netflix head of original film
  • Lindsay Utz, award-winning film editor ("American Factory" and "Miss Americana")
  • Tyler Gillett, director ("Scream 5" and "V/H/S")
  • Mike Plante, Sundance Film Festival shorts programmer
  • Brad Slater, WME agent and partner
  • Eyde Belasco, casting director ("Sorry To Bother You" and "Transparent")
  • Allison Vanore, producer ("After Forever")
  • Peter Murrieta, writer and producer ("Mr. Iglesias" and "Superior Donuts")
  • Emerging directors Darious Britt ("Unsound") and Christopher Nataanii Cegielski ("Reagan")
  • Actors Vinessa Vidotto ("Lucifer"), Kyle Harris ("Stitchers," "Indoor Boys" and "High Maintenance"), Carly Natania Grossman and Michael Schulz

Tucson's Loft Cinema program director Jeff Yanc will host.

"Located an hour's drive from the Mexican border and a short flight from Hollywood, the UArizona School of Theatre, Film and Television has built over time a reputation for nurturing and elevating diverse voices and original, brave visions," said Andrew Belser,director of the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television. "We're thrilled to share our student and alumni talent with a larger audience and hope that this unique slate of films and behind-the-scenes stories from our impressive cadre of alumni will be a welcome, energizing and uplifting addition to the streaming-scape, and bring new perspective to our business."

The 2020 event schedule is as follows:

Aug. 8

Introduction
Scott Stuber, Head of Original Film, Netflix

The Influencers  
Tyler Gillett + Lindsay Utz
The co-director of "Scream 5" and the editor of this year's Academy Award-winning Best Documentary, "American Factory," in conversation about shaping the art of tomorrow's cinema.

The Starmakers 
Brad Slater and Eyde Belasco
How stars are made and new talent discovered, from the agents who represent you to the casting directors responsible for you being hired, WME's Brad Slater and casting director Eyde Belasco discuss everything you need to know.

New Voices 
Darious Britt and Christopher Cegielski
A lively conversation between these emerging directors will look at how they were able to get their projects made and the challenges and opportunities that face new filmmakers in today's entertainment landscape.

Film Block One + Q&A
Hosted by Jeff Yanc

  • MIRROR – Filmmaker: Mason Day (6:45)
  • TESORO –  Filmmaker: Roxanna Denise Stevens Ibarra (8:30)
  • KAREN FROM SUSIE MAY – Filmmakers: Dan Crowley and Adam Alegría (10:25)
  • SIDE BY SIDE – Filmmaker: Alyssa Urgo (7:24)
  • TIL THE END – Filmmaker: Joel Romero (8:30)
  • DICK'S CAFE AMRIKANO – Filmmakers: Zayna Altoubal + Daniel Paz (8:30)
  • HOUSES IN MOTION – Filmmakers: Adrian Meyer + Martin Somoza (8:20)

Aug. 9

The Writers' Room 
Allison Vanore and Peter Murrieta
Writer/producers Allison Vanore and Peter Murrieta talk streaming platforms, writing and producing a hit TV series, what makes good television and whether today's writers' rooms are diverse enough.

Festival World 
Mike Plante
In a discussion with one of this year's graduating filmmakers, we learn what a Sundance Film Festival programmer looks for when deciding which projects to include in a world-renowned film festival.

The Actors 
Kyle Harris and Vinessa Vidotto 
with Carly Natania Grossman and Michael Schulz
Two of today’s most up-and-coming television actors are joined by the next generation of acting talent to discuss what it takes to be cast, how to stand out and some of the challenges facing actors in the current environment.

Film Block Two + Q&A
Hosted by Jeff Yanc

  • THE LEAK – Filmmaker: Adam Meilech (9:34)
  • A HUNGER – Filmmaker: Anthony Cutrone (6:30)
  • BARREN – Filmmaker: Emma Sinex (6:40)
  • ICE CREAM RUN – Filmmaker: Sam Lulloff (7:20)
  • YOU DON'T DARE KNOW – Filmmaker: Bailey Stalcup (7:20)
  • IRIS – Filmmaker: Zach Lovvorn (6:40)
  • THE LIGHTS ARE ON, NO ONE'S HOME – Filmmaker: Faye Ruiz (10:15)

Awards Ceremony
Hosted by Jeff Yanc

Notes to the Editors:

IDIWS 2020 images can be found here:
https://arizona.box.com/s/6nj9br9slis5g0b5gslxs99a811e6ih9

IDIWS 2020 trailer can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8D7UNRcIAo

About I Dream in Widescreen

I Dream in Widescreen is an annual year-end celebration of the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television student thesis films. Previously held at the historic Fox Tucson Theatre and now in its 15th year, films from the graduating class compete for prizes to be awarded by a panel of noted jurists from a cross-section of the entertainment industry. I Dream in Widescreen 2020 is sponsored by Craig Huston, Film Tucson, Adobe, Monsoon Production Services, Pollution Studios, Entertainment Partners, Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation, Hanson FilmTV Institute, Xerox, Ricoh, The Loft Cinema, the University of Arizona BookStores, Student/Faculty Interaction Grant from Faculty Programs, Campus Life and the estate of Ann Blackmarr.

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Media contact:
Kerryn Negus
School of Theatre, Film & Television
knegus@arizona.edu

The University of Arizona, a land-grant university with two independently accredited medical schools, is one of the nation's top public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. Established in 1885, the university is widely recognized as a student-centric university and has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. The university ranked in the top 20 in 2018 in research expenditures among all public universities, according to the National Science Foundation, and is a leading Research 1 institution with $687 million in annual research expenditures. The university advances the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships as a member of the Association of American Universities, the 65 leading public and private research universities in the U.S. It benefits the state with an estimated economic impact of $4.1 billion annually. For the latest on the University of Arizona response to the novel coronavirus, visit the university's COVID-19 webpage.