For the past three years, Villanova has honored student filmmakers with an awards show and film festival: The Villys. Run by Villanova Television (VTV) and the Campus Activities Team (CAT), the Villys works to “celebrate student films and creativity,” according to Vice President of VTV Ally Weitzman. 

In April of 2020, Weitzman helped VTV host its first Villys. Years before, VTV attempted to create a student film festival, but it did not get the traction the club had hoped for. With a background in filmmaking, Weitzman spearheaded what is now known as the Villys. 

“During 2020, when I was a general body member, there was talk of VTV trying again at a film festival, but no plans were made and then we got sent home because of COVID,” Weitzman said. “That spring, I earned an executive board position and became the new Director of Internal Affairs. With the support of the current president at the time, Zach Mann, we decided to try again at creating a film festival. With no prior framework to replicate, we had to create the event from the ground up.”

The first year the festival ran, Weitzman established judging rubrics, festival rules, solidified the submission process, established a partnership with CAT and focused on various other logistics. In previous years, the event has seen different hosts and has found a large amount of success among the student body.

This year, the event was hosted by Noel B. Doherty, a Villanova student and social media content creator who brought energy and laughter to the event. 

Student filmmakers from around campus came to present their films, with awards given out in nine different categories. “Fermata” won Best Editing and Audience Choice, “The F9 Key” won Best Story, “Less Soap More Blood” won for Best Cinematography, “Purgatory” won for Best Acting, “They/Themed” won Best Comedy and “Not Enough Time” won Best Drama and Standout Villys Filmmaker. 

The Villys also highlighted the work of Oak Tree Films, a student-run production company in Villanova’s Social Justice Documentary Course. Oak Tree Films showed two documentaries that centered on the lives and work of female leaders in Kenya. 

Weitzman got in on the filmmaking action alongside friends A.J. Fezza, Jake Saunders and Matt Gaetano with their film “Fermata.”

“The inspiration for our film came from the fact that we are all college seniors about to end a major chapter of our life,” Fezza said. “We wanted to capture the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with endings and new beginnings through the character of Miles. We also wanted to incorporate music, given the musical talent that exists in our group, particularly in Jake.”

Fezza, Saunder, Gaetano and Weitzman have submitted films for all three Villys. Attempting to change up the genre each year, the group opted for a more “traditional, dramatic approach,” according to Fezza. 

Although the event was a fantastic night for students, putting on such a large event requires a large amount of coordination and problem solving. 

“The event this year faced some obstacles,” Weitzman said. “Initially, we had planned in advance for the Villys to be 4/16. Unfortunately, this turned out to be Admitted Students Day, so we had to pivot well into already planning the event and communicating the film showing dates.”

Despite date troubles and the inevitable sound obstacles, Weitzman stated that she is “proud that we were able to create an inclusive, fun space to celebrate student art and were able to produce a third Villys.” Other members of VTV played a critical role in the production of the Villys, including Ashton Rodriguez, the Director of Internal Affairs; Justin Groel, the Director of Events and Isabella Ledet, the Communications Director and the Villys Committee. 

Weitzman hopes that the Villys can become a longstanding Villanova tradition.

“Every day, students are looking for ways to entertain themselves, whether it be through live streaming, going to a movie or attending a student organization event,” Weitzman said. “Why not have an event that celebrates Villanova Student filmmakers? It is a great way for VTV to give back to the Villanova Community and to further empower student creativity.”