Filmmaking
The world needs more creatives like you making films.
Filmmaking is a dynamic creative process that blends artistry with a multitude of learnable skills, from storytelling and cinematography to editing and sound design. It demands not only hard work and determination but also a deep commitment to collaboration, as it takes a dedicated team to transform a vision into a quality film.
Through a passion for film and teamwork, Stephens鈥� Filmmaking program provides the essential tools to bring your stories to life. We hope you will join us.
Program Features
- Begin working with professional film equipment your first semester on campus.
- Work alongside industry professionals during the Stephens Film Institute 鈥� a week-long production at the end of the spring semester.
- Continue writing, producing and directing original films throughout your career at Stephens.
- Graduate with a body of work that has been screened to a professional jury and at community events.
- Get support in submitting your work to outside film festivals.
This intensive summer experience brings together Filmmaking students, professional guest filmmakers, and filmmaking faculty to produce, shoot and edit a film together.
Our students actively produce films throughout their time at Stephens.
The Senior Showcase is the culmination of a full year of work. It鈥檚 run like a film festival, with a Q+A for directors.
Alumni Showcase
What Sets Us Apart
- Our filmmakers learn by doing. You will be immersed in filmmaking gear and begin making films your first semester.
- We have two large soundstage studios. Rain or shine, we are making films year-round.
- Access to a screening room to see your work on the big screen anytime you like.
- Technology: Students have free access to a full range of filmmaking equipment maintained by the film program faculty and library staff.
- Columbia鈥檚 annual documentary film festival, , is an integral part of spring semester film courses. Stephens students get behind-the-scenes experience by serving as festival volunteers.
- Columbia鈥檚 strong local arts community includes , a few short blocks from the Stephens campus.
- Our students attend regular masterclasses with visiting industry professionals.
48 Hour Film Competition 2026
The 48-Hour Film Competition is back!
In honor of kicking off on Friday the 13th, this year every team starts with HORROR聽and will randomly be assigned a second genre to combine with it.
At the live YouTube stream kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday, November 13, filmmakers will discover the secondary genre along with a required line of dialogue and prop聽that must appear in their movie. Then the clock starts! Teams have exactly 48 hours to write, shoot, edit, and submit their films by 7 p.m. Sunday, November 15.
Completed films will hit the big screen at Ragtag Cinema on Monday, November 16. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the screening beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m.聽Prizes and awards will be presented to filmmakers following the screening.
2025 Competition Results:
- Best Film: The Last Ride of the Lone Bandit by Sophia Quayle and CJ Ward (both Filmmaking majors!)
- Best Cinematography and Lighting: Alex Mertzlufft, Brynn Woods, Alisha Gupta
- Best Performance by an Actor: Tilia Saxton
- Audience Award: Everlasting Sunset
Student Film Showcase
Join us for the Student Film Showcase at聽吃瓜网 on Wednesday, October 7 at 7 p.m. in Windsor Auditorium!
Related programs
Master of Fine Arts in TV & Screenwriting
Contact Us
Filmmaking
Chase Thompson, Associate Professor, Film Program Chair
(573) 876-7168
cthompson@stephens.edu