9th Annual IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival Announces Student Winner & Generous $600k Donation From Chicagoland Educator
Grand Prize Winner Announced at Film Festival Event in Benefit of IES Abroad Scholarships in Chicago on Oct. 12
Chicago, IL -- IES Abroad is excited to announce the winner of this year's 9th Annual IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival. Sami Stidham from the University of Wisconsin-Madison accepted the Grand Prize for her film "Take the Goggles Off," inspired by her IES Abroad experience in Barcelona (Spring 2023). "Take the Goggles Off" is a thought-provoking and visually captivating film that encourages viewers to embrace the profound beauty hidden within the everyday moments of life. Sami was one of 13 semifinalists and made it to the top 3. She received the $1,500 Grand Prize and secured the newly created $5,000 IES Abroad Barbara Bobrich Annual scholarship for a future University of Wisconsin-Madison study abroad student in financial need, made possible by a newly announced $600,000 donation.
IES Abroad is a leading not-for-profit organization based in Chicago that provides college students access to more than 130+ study abroad programs in 30+ global locations. Over the past nine years, more than 600 student films have showcased the transformative power of study abroad and the creative abilities of IES Abroad students.
THE FILM FESTIVAL
Hosted by Patrick Jager (IES Abroad Vienna alum, Study Abroad Film Festival Juror, and award-winning media executive), the eagerly anticipated IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival was a night that celebrated the ingenuity of student filmmakers, providing a platform for them to showcase their exceptional cinematic creations inspired by their life-changing study abroad experiences. More than 250 attendees enjoyed a screening of the finalist films, a lively Q&A session with the finalists, and a fun post-event reception. The Film Festival raised more than $100,000 for IES Abroad Scholarships, bringing the total to $700,000 raised for IES Abroad to date through the film festival and with the Barbara Bobrich gift.
Founded in 2014, the IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival was the industry's first student-focused study-abroad film festival. Celebrating its ninth anniversary in 2023, the Film Festival has provided students a platform to voice their global journey through their own words and video footage, capturing unique views into their life-changing study abroad experiences – showing what the experience meant to them and how it redefined their world. More than 600 films have been submitted to the festival since it began in 2014.
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
“Take the Goggles Off” | Sami Stidham (University of Wisconsin-Madison) | IES Abroad Barcelona, Spring 2023 Study Abroad | “What I did not expect to learn or realize is that I had been living but only half alive…” “Take the Goggles Off” is a thought-provoking and visually captivating film that encourages viewers to embrace the profound beauty hidden within the everyday moments of life. The film highlights the importance of finding wonder not only in exciting adventures but also in the seemingly mundane aspects of daily existence. was that I was living but half a life.
RUNNERS-UP
“Lost Time” | by Emily Greenzang (University of Rochester) and Grant Didway (Whitman College) | IES Abroad Granada, Spring 2023| “Lost Time” beautifully illustrates that while the study abroad journey may conclude, the memories created during this time will forever shape their lives, emphasizing the enduring power of nostalgia and the value of intangible connections.
“Silent Echos” | William M-J (University of Texas at Austin) | IES Abroad Barcelona, Spring 2023| Born from the filmmaker's study abroad experience and a journey through depression, “Silent Echos” takes viewers on a captivating exploration of the profound realization that happiness resides within each individual.
2023 DONATION
Excitingly, the IES Abroad team announced a new scholarship in honor of Barbara Bobrich, a lifelong educator and global traveler at the Film Festival. Barbara discovered IES Abroad through the Festival and connected to IES Abroad’s mission. Since then, Barbara became an IES Abroad donor for many years until her passing in 2022. It was Barbara’s wish for IES Abroad to be a steward of her educator legacy through a generous bequest of $600,000. Barbara was born and raised in Chicago by parents who encouraged curiosity and education beyond the classroom. She was a first-generation college graduate from Northwestern University who made education her lifelong journey via a 45-year teaching career at Maine East and Maine South High Schools in Park Ridge, Illinois. In one of her many essays regarding education, Barbara wrote: “I do believe that education's main function is not primarily to teach subject matter, but rather to prepare them for something infinitely more important… life.” IES Abroad also announced the Barbara Bobrich $5,000 Annual Scholarship. It will carry forward Barbara's passion for education by sponsoring an IES Abroad global opportunity for a student in financial need enrolled at the Film Festival Grand Prize winner's alma mater. Going forward, not only will the Film Fest winner receive their own cash prize, but they will also give the gift of studying abroad to a future student.
For more information on IES Abroad study abroad programs and the IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival, please visit www.IESabroad.org or www.IESabroad.org/film-festival.
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