U of A Film Students Sweep Production Awards

Sept. 10, 2025
To: University Community
From: School of Theatre, Film & Television
Subject: U of A Film Students Sweep Production Awards
Date: Sep 10, 2025

The School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) at the University of Arizona is celebrating an extraordinary achievement: a clean sweep at the 2025 NATAS Student Production Awards (Video), presented by the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

At this year's ceremony, held over the weekend, TFTV students won in every category in which they were nominated – a testament to their creative excellence, dedication, and the strength of the program's mentorship and training.

"This is a clear reflection of the bold storytelling, technical skill, and collaborative spirit our students bring to every project," said TFTV Director Dr. Frances Gateward. "We're so proud of their accomplishments!"

Brady McDowell won in the category of Best Audio/Sound alongside Xander Maniece.

“When I set out to work on Xander's sci-fi film 'The World We Live In,' I never expected my sound work to make such an impact on the film and the audience as a whole. My mentor, Professor Michael Mulcahy, was a huge inspiration; his professional input and unwavering support helped guide a lot of my creative decisions for that sound design, and I'm immensely grateful to have had such an amazing professor by my side. This award is confirmation that I have what it takes to carry out professional work, and I'm optimistic it'll lead to further opportunities down the road.”

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.

2025 NATAS Student Production Award Winners:

Best Writer – "Nostalgiathon '99"
Cailan Compierchio, Sophia Harrigan

Best Director – "Parallel Lines"
Neylani Castro

Best Editor – "Universe Academy"
Daniel Cadena, Andy Mourelatos

Best Audio/Sound – "The World We Live In"
Xander Maniece, Brady McDowell

Best Photographer – "The Grit of It All"
Alek Mendez

Best Fiction Short Form – "Play Pretend"
Jordan Fouts

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