Students carry lessons learned, deadline urgency into Film Festival production

The FirstDance Film Festival will return in Spring 2026

As the only returning Video Production student who had a film shown in the program’s inaugural FirstDance Film Festival, Jake Olivier already has creative and technical expertise. He can also lean on the experience, including the lessons he learned from making a film and watching his classmates make theirs.

“I’m extremely excited to take everything I’ve learned and apply it to the movie I’m making now,” said Olivier, an Eastchester student whose film earned Best Screenplay honors at last year’s festival, the first ever for the Center for Career Services. “I’m definitely a lot more confident in my abilities.”

Although his classmates don’t have the same experience, they, too, said they are well-prepared for the festival, which will be held next spring at Westchester Community College. Some of the students worked at the festival as juniors. Others participated in the production of the seniors’ film or closely observed them at the very least.

“I definitely think we are more prepared than they were at this time last year,” senior Alan Arizmendi said. “I spend all summer brainstorming ideas and preparing. I even wrote a draft of my screenplay. I feel like we had a big head start.”

That doesn’t mean this year’s film production will be simple. Instructor Michael May has moved up deadlines, requiring students to complete their films by January. This timeline will allow the Audio Production program to assist with improving soundtracks and May to better promote the event.

“We had to rush to get things done because it was the first time,” May said. “We now have a full year to not just make sure the projects are being completed the right way and to collaborate with Audio Production, but also to make sure we have enough time to promote the festival. If the work is the same or better, great, but we want to make sure we allow time to create more awareness of the festival, too.”

Students are in the middle of production. They are shooting and editing scenes while navigating any creative and technical challenges. But after being so close to last year’s filmmakers, they understand what to expect.

“I was in one of the films, and I really gained an understanding for what the production process is like,” Arizmendi said. “A lot of things will happen that can interrupt you. I learned that you just have to push through until you can get everything done the way you want it.”