Taylor’s Envision Film Festival Begins Thursday

Taylor University’s 2023 Envision Film Festival will begin Thursday, March 9, and continue with events through Saturday, March 10.

Dozens of high school and filmmakers from Taylor University are expected to attend the event, which is sponsored by Taylor’s award winning Film and Media Program.

The event features two competitions – one for high school students and the other for Taylor students. Additionally, special guests from the film industry will be on campus to participate in the festival.

The evening of March 9 is especially for prospective students and their parents. Registration begins at 5 pm and is followed by a 5:30 dinner and a Taylor student showcase at 6 pm.

On March 10, special guests Eric VanValin and Conor Olstad will be on hand. Van Valin has worked for the past 10 years for Warner Bros. Studio in the areas of casting and TV development. His written work on faith, film, and television has been published in Relevant Magazine and Fuller Magazine. VanValin is the coordinator of Taylor’s Hollywood Internship Program and is also co-founder of Our Open House, a non-profit resource organization for families in foster care. Olstad is a 2015 Taylor alumnus. After working at a local media agency that serves outdoor industry clients, Olstad launched a production company that now serves clients like Remington Ammunition and Kuiu Apparel. In that same time period, he also launched and built a social media presence under the brand Midwest Flyways, increasing its following to 23k on YouTube, 24k on Instagram, and 111k on Tik Tok before stepping away last fall.

The day’s featured events include chapel at 10 am in the Rediger Chapel/Auditorium and is followed by workshops hosted by VanValin and Olstad.

That evening is the highlight of the festival as the best work of the year by Taylor students is presented in Rediger Chapel/Auditorium at 7 pm. The program will include the winning film from the Envision high school competition and will be streamed live for family members to join virtually.

On March 11, there’s a repeat of the informational session and tour of Taylor’s Film and Media Program, followed by a brunch. The festival wraps up at noon.

View the complete schedule on the Envision Film Festival website. 

Envision Film Festival Goals

• To honor aspiring Taylor filmmakers and high school filmmakers, providing a venue for public exhibition of their work.
• To highlight the significance of film as a medium that can express beauty, truth, and goodness, prompting meaningful dialogue, engaging culture, and ultimately giving glory to God.
• To celebrate the gifts and passions of aspiring high school filmmakers, providing an opportunity for them to enter their work in competition and to grow in community with other filmmakers.
• To acquaint film and media industry professionals with the work of Taylor and high school filmmakers.
• To provide networking and educational experiences for college and high school filmmakers by means of interaction with industry professionals.
• To offer opportunities for audiences to learn more about the filmmaking process in dialogue with filmmakers.

Mission Statement

The Envision Film Festival honors aspiring filmmakers whose visual storytelling explores the range of human experience with hopeful vision, artistry, truthfulness, and integrity.