The Bates Film Festival, a fully student-led event, will take place from May 12 to 17 on the Bates College campus and at various theaters and galleries across the region, organizers announced on Apr. 9. The festival features screenings, panel discussions, and guest appearances with a focus on nationally and internationally respected films.
The event stands out because it is organized entirely by students as part of a course called “Film Festival Studies,” taught by Professor Jon Cavallero. Cavallero said he trusts his students to lead the festival: “As a teacher, I’m committed to trusting my students… Maybe they could bring a fresh perspective to it.” He added that his trust has been rewarded every year.
Students participating in the course are divided into fiction and documentary teams to select films for the festival. Eli Greenwald ’26 said, “In this class, you’re not really doing this for a grade. You’re doing it because you’re building a tangible event that you can see with your own eyes.” Claire Orfield ’26 also emphasized collaboration: “I was just so impressed with the types of conversations that were happening.”
The festival includes Maine-based filmmakers such as David Camlin and Megan Grumbling, along with actors Matthew Delamater, Xander Berkeley, and Dustin Tucker. Special events include author Michael Koryta discussing his novel adaptation Those Who Wish Me Dead and producer Desi Van Til screening Tumbledown alongside director Sean Mewshaw.
Accessibility is central to the festival’s mission; all events are free and open to the public. Cavallero said: “Accessibility has always been at our core… In a world where festivals establish their importance by embracing exclusivity, we’re building an event defined by its inclusivity.” The festival has expanded beyond Lewiston since its inception in 2018 to include other Maine communities.
Looking ahead, both faculty and students say they value how organizing the festival prepares them for future careers while fostering community engagement through film. As Van Til noted about student involvement: “Knowing that the Bates Film Festival is being run by students who are curating these films… gives me hope.”
