UGA Students Shine at Athens Film Festival Amid Local Industry Slowdown
Despite a slowdown in the local film industry, students from the University of Georgia (UGA) are making waves with their impressive film projects. Their work was prominently featured at the Athens Film Festival, held from August 27-30, which showcased over 110 independent films from around the globe, with many originating from Georgia.
Among the standout productions were films created by both current students and alumni of UGA. A notable example is “The Damned Thing,” a short film adaptation of Ambrose Bierce’s classic American story. This film was crafted by Christopher Lewis and Estevan Valdes, graduates of UGA’s Masters film program, as part of their thesis project.
Estevan Valdes shared insights into the film’s development process, stating, “We started working on it in the spring of 2024, and we were developing it, like super early on. He had already known that this is what he wanted to do for his thesis and I really liked the story, kind of like the mystery and the intrigue of it all…”
For those who missed the festival, there is an opportunity to view these films, including “The Damned Thing,” during an online virtual festival scheduled from September 1st to 7th.
