DeSales University Act 1 Presents the DeSales University Film Festival

The division of performing arts at DeSales University presents the DeSales University Film Festival, premiering on Saturday, March 26, at 8:00 p.m. both in person at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts and streaming online.

An exciting showcase of world premiere films, the DeSales University Film Festival—DUFF for short—features the emerging voices of film directors, screenwriters, producers, cinematographers, designers, editors, animators, and actors in the DeSales film department. The event also includes photo highlight segments, showcasing beautiful and compelling art by the talented photographers of the TV/Film Department and the entire University.

Films in the Festival will compete for Best Overall Film, Best Cinematography, Best Directing, Best Editing/Sound Design, and the DUFFY Award for Audience Choice.

"Over 60 of our students' films were submitted this year, and the DUFF jury is now busy making their selections for the festival, as well as choosing only the best for special awards in directing, cinematography, sound, and editing,” said Michael Wagner, executive producer of the Festival and associate professor and chair of the DeSales TV/Film department.

Judging the films will be three notable international artists in the world of film, including actress Anupama Kumar, who was featured in popular Indian films such as My Son is Gay and Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal, where she received the Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actress; director John Knipp, whose short film Deep Creak has premiered in 12 film festivals throughout the country, including the Hollyshorts Film Festival in LA and the New York Film Festival; and filmmaker Nehad Khader, who is the director and managing editor of the Blackstar Film Festival in Philadelphia.

“The word so far from our jury is that they're impressed by the high level of film storytelling and craft coming from such a small program and university," said Wagner.

Considered the leading film school in the Lehigh Valley, the DeSales TV/Film department boasts more than two dozen Emmy Award winners from among its alumni. The 22nd annual festival is the perfect time to show where our successful alumni began their careers, as well as a launching pad for student filmmakers as they begin their careers in the film, television, and entertainment industries.

The DeSales University Film Festival will be on Saturday, March 26, at 8:00 p.m. The live showing will take place on the Main Stage of the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets for the live performance are $15 for adults and $13 for seniors and students. 

DUFF streams on March 26, 2022. Please note that, due to careful timing, this in-person and streaming event will only be available starting promptly at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the streamed premiere are $12 per viewer.

Students who attend DeSales or any other Lehigh Valley college or university can purchase tickets for $6. Group discounts are available. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Labuda Center Box Office at 610-282-3192.