Senior Cinema majors premiere original capstone films during McDaniel Cinema Showcase

Cinema majors premiere their original student-produced narrative and documentary films as the culminating project for their senior capstone during the annual McDaniel Cinema Showcase on Wednesday, May 7, and Thursday, May 8. Free and open to the public, screenings begin at 6:30 p.m. in Decker Auditorium, Lewis Hall of Science. There will be a brief Q&A with the filmmaker after each film.

Cinema Showcase 2025 — McDaniel Cinema Showcase includes narrative and documentary films by senior Cinema majors at McDaniel as portfolios of their work.

Senior Cinema majors present their original student-produced narrative and documentary films during the annual McDaniel Cinema Showcase. The students wrote, directed, produced, and edited films as the culminating project for their senior capstone.

The McDaniel Cinema Showcase is Wednesday, May 7, and Thursday, May 8, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in Decker Auditorium, Lewis Hall of Science. Each screening also includes a brief Q&A with the filmmaker. Note: some content contains adult material and is intended for mature audiences.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Students are Steven Angel of Arnold, Maryland, C.J. Bentzel of Bowie, Maryland, Aiden Chin of Bowie, Maryland, Chris Dinunzio of Fairfax Station, Virginia, Nelly Ellis of Reisterstown, Maryland, Eileen Eslin of Berlin, Maryland, Bairon Flores of Frederick, Maryland, Zoey Hunter of Pennsauken, New Jersey, Em Kaiser of Edgewater, Maryland, Nia Quiñonez-Kurnick of Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, Kyle Sarnowski of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Carmela Vecchio of Silver Spring, Maryland, and Ben Wallace of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Schedule of films being showcased

Wednesday, May 7:

"Bells Are Ringing"
by senior Cinema major Carmela Vecchio
An exploration of the negative neurological and psychological side effects of chronic concussions in football athletes. (Documentary, 26 min.)

"The LC Veterans: Admissions"
by senior Cinema major C.J. Bentzel
A new college student fears an explosive moment from his past might impact his future. (Narrative, 22 min.)

"Blessed Souls of Purgatory"
by senior Cinema major Nia Quiñonez-Kurnick
A girl with incredible powers tries to prove to her grandmother that she deserves her approval. (Narrative, 22 min.)

"Indecision Time"
by senior Cinema and Communication major Steven Angel
Ben Stillwater thinks his indie band has just hit the bigtime. (Narrative, 23 min.)

"L Take"
by senior Cinema major Aiden Chin
A chauvinist student is trapped by a witch and forced to listen to campus folks' true feelings about him. (Narrative, 22 min.)

"Your Body My Choice"
by senior Cinema major Ben Wallace
A college student’s future is shattered when an admirer uses a deepfake app, forcing her to confront the unraveling of her identity and sanity. (Narrative, 27 min.)

Thursday, May 8:

"Remembering You"
by senior Cinema major Em Kaiser
Grief can be difficult to handle. Even worse when you barely remember the person. But stories can be extraordinarily healing. I hope you all learn about my father just as I have. (Documentary, 22 min.)

"You Need To Wake Up Now"
by senior Cinema major Nelly Ellis
When Tracey Pompell wakes up with amnesia, an aunt tells her she has no other family. But, all that changes when she receives a letter from the mysterious "Cori.” (Narrative, 20 min.)

"Blood, Sweat & Tears"
by senior Cinema major Bairon Flores
A chronicle of the journey of a UFC fighter. (Documentary, 22 min.)

"The Man Behind the Curtain"
by senior Cinema major Kyle Sarnowski
Late-night host Skip Phillips faces cancellation and holding everything together. (Narrative, 23 min.)

"Graduation"
by senior Cinema major Chris Dinunzio
A student already struggling with graduating on time must combat being unknowingly drugged. (Narrative, 22 min.)

"The Universal Language of Love: College Edition"
by senior Cinema major Eileen Eslin
What is love and how do you find it? (Documentary, 20 min.)

"Hopeless Valentine's"
by senior Cinema major Zoey Hunter
Destiny, who hates Valentine's Day, spends the day ruining it for everyone else. (Narrative, 22 min.)

May 6, 2025

Photography by Professor of Communication & Cinema Jonathan Slade '88