My Davidson | A Student Blog Beyond the Red Carpet: My Winter Break at the Palm Springs International Film Festival

“I chose Davidson for its strong academic community and commitment to learning beyond the classroom. Davidson offers extensive support for international students and provides rich opportunities for experiential learning, such as its study abroad program in Ghana for anthropology. I was also drawn to the trust-based community and supportive academic environment, where close faculty mentorship encourages intellectual curiosity and meaningful engagement with the world.”

During winter break, I volunteered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival for 10 days with support from the Office of International Student Engagement’s Alvarez Grant. 

As an international student who faces challenges traveling home during academic breaks, the Alvarez Grant enabled me to transform this time into a valuable opportunity for experiential learning and exploring career pathways.

As a double major in film, media, and digital studies and anthropology with the goal of pursuing documentary filmmaking, this experience offered firsthand insight into how films move from production to public exhibition. I worked across multiple box offices and theaters, assisting with ticket sales and scanning, greeting audiences, and distributing ballots for audience voting. Working closely with over 600 volunteers gave me a practical understanding of the logistical work required to operate a large-scale international film festival.

Alongside my volunteer responsibilities, I attended around 30 film screenings and engaged in conversations with filmmakers and industry professionals, including directors such as Clint Bentley (Train Dreams), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), and Annemarie Jacir (Palestine 36). Listening to their reflections on production processes, budgeting, and ethical responsibilities deepened my understanding of contemporary filmmaking. These conversations complemented the academic training I have received at Davidson, particularly in filmmaking courses taught by Professor Erin Kökdil.

One of the most meaningful aspects of the festival was speaking with emerging filmmakers (including Juanjo Pereira, director of Under the Flags, the Sun) who created powerful early works with limited resources. Their experiences demonstrated how artistic vision can be strengthened through creativity and collaboration, inspiring me to rethink how meaningful films are made under constraint.

This experience also resonated with my personal background. I come from a village in Henan Province that has been labeled an “AIDS village,” and I have long aspired to document this stigmatized and underrepresented history. Viewing Palestine 36 and hearing Annemarie Jacir reflect on filmmaking under political constraints highlighted the role of film as a form of ethical engagement and, at times, resistance. Her insights helped clarify how I hope to approach sensitive histories with responsibility and care.

I returned to Davidson with renewed focus and clearer direction. Following the festival, I connected with screenwriters and producers in Los Angeles and am currently working with the Film, Media, and Digital Studies Department to bring Dead Man’s Wire to campus for screening and Q&A. This experience affirmed my commitment to documentary filmmaking while also expanding my interest in other forms of nonfiction and narrative cinema. Most importantly, it strengthened my understanding of film as a powerful medium for social reflection and participation in meaningful social dialogue and change.