Final submissions for the UIL Film Festival were made Jan. 20. With submissions from Animation, Audio / Visual Production and independent students involved in film production, competitors cover a wide variety of videography and all have hopes of winning at state.

“My ultimate hope for UIL participants is for them to win,” Animation and A/V Production teacher Madison Morris said. “That said, my genuine aspiration for all my students … is to nurture and enhance their skills, creativity and confidence.”

State-level competition and judging will occur Feb. 28 in Austin, where placement and awards will be announced over two sessions sorted by school ranking, with the first covering 1A – 4A schools and the second for 5A and 6A campuses.

“I enjoy making my stories come to life,” senior and digital animation competitor Addisyn Lingo said. “The deadlines are stressful since animation takes so long. I’m worried that my animation is too silly or obnoxious, but I think my story is strong enough to cover that.”

This will also be the first year Morris oversees UIL Film entries, marking a learning point with new experiences and lessons to be had. 

“I was so afraid that the students wouldn’t be able to complete their projects or that I would mess up when submitting them,” Morris said. “However, I was amazed by the [quality] of their work and the creative ideas they brought to life. It was truly inspiring to witness the growth and enthusiasm behind each project throughout the first semester.”

The contest covers four categories of film:  digital and traditional animation, narrative film, and documentary film. With the requirement that all submissions be made during the school year or the spring or summer immediately prior to the deadline, students are required to work on a tight deadline to plan, draft and make changes throughout their project.

“When I was working on my animation, I kept telling myself that if I keep working at it, I’ll improve naturally,” Lingo said. “I left the improvement and critique to happen on their own and focused on making sure I had an engaging story that the judges would enjoy.”

Even despite the stress of completing submissions for the Film Festival, Morris has emphasized her confidence in the participants and continues to underline the importance of every experience this opportunity can provide.

“I have numerous plans for the future to engage and excite students,” Morris said. “I am filled with excitement and pride for their work, and I want them to create projects that they are eager to showcase. I see immense potential for many of them to pursue careers in this field, and sometimes all it takes is one exceptional piece of work to transform their entire trajectory.”