Chicago International Film Festival Spotlights Columbia Talent
“The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells” is the product of a collaboration among several Columbia College Chicago alumni. The film intricately weaves the narratives of celebrated sculptor Richard Hunt and civil rights pioneer Ida B. Wells. 
The documentary short “Broken Flight,” directed and produced by Columbia College Chicago Alum Erika Valenciana ’05 and Mitchell Wenkus, follows Chicago Bird Collision Monitors as they collaborate with the Field Museum and Willowbrook Wildlife Center. The Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF), running from October 16 to 27, shines a spotlight on the talent emerging from Columbia College Chicago. As in previous years, the festival serves as a platform for international and local filmmakers, showcasing their creativity both on screen and behind the scenes.
A Documentary With Heart: “The Light of Truth”
One film has particular close ties with Columbia: “The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells.” The filmmakers include several Columbia Film and Television alums, including Rana Segal '80 (director/producer); Vincent Singleton MFA ’08 (cinematographer), and Laurie Little MFA ’02 (producer), currently an adjunct faculty member at Columbia. Columbia Business and Entrepreneurship Adjunct Professor Michelle Duster, who is Wells' great-granddaughter and spearheaded the monument committee, played a crucial role in bringing the documentary to the screen and appears in the film.
The film intricately weaves the narratives of celebrated sculptor Richard Hunt and civil rights pioneer Ida B. Wells. Hunt’s stunning 35-foot sculpture of Wells in Bronzeville stands as a testament to their shared mission to combat racism and champion the rights of Black Americans.
“We wanted to lift up the stories of these two important Chicagoans who few people know about,” Little says, highlighting the film’s goal of educating viewers on underrepresented historical figures.
Showtime
“The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells”
Oct. 27, 12 p.m.
Chicago History Museum
Environmental Awareness Through Film
Another noteworthy entry at the CIFF is the documentary short “Broken Flight,” directed and produced by Erika Valenciana ’05 and Mitchell Wenkus. This film is part of the City & State Shorts series and follows the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors as they collaborate with the Field Museum and Willowbrook Wildlife Center. The documentary sheds light on the urgent issue of bird collisions with skyscrapers, exploring the efforts to rescue these birds and study their migration patterns.
Showtimes
“Broken Flight” and Other City & State Shorts
Friday, Oct. 18, 5:45 p.m.
AMC NewCity 14
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 5 p.m.
Chicago History Museum
With a focus on impactful storytelling, this year’s festival is set to engage audiences while championing the voices that shape our cultural landscape. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness these powerful stories unfold on the big screen.
Unique Festival Opportunity for Columbia Community
The Chicago International Film Festival often partners with Columbia College Chicago. This year, CIFF invites the Columbia community to an Industry Days Master Class with award-winning editor Troy Davis, which will be held at Columbia on Oct. 22, at 10:15 a.m. in 1104 S. Wabash, Room 410. CIFF will be giving away free in-person and virtual passes to the festival.
RSVP here.
Behind the Scenes: Alumni and Students
Columbia alumni also play significant roles in the festival's success behind the scenes. Sam Flancher ’13, continues his work as a programmer for CIFF along with fellow alums Nabil Aouad ’19 and Amir George ’09. Flancher recently returned to campus to inspire students by sharing his professional journey.
You’ll also find alum Mary Kate Ashe ’19 working as the festival’s accessibility coordinator and Mikaela McParlane ’17 serving as operations manager. And emerging filmmaker Carlos Lerma, a student who had a film screened at CIFF’s CineYouth festival last spring, has been a marketing intern since June. He is one of several current students working for the festival. Lerma’s experiences and insights into the filmmaking process were recently highlighted in the “Chicago Tribune,” further showcasing the dynamic nature of Columbia’s student body.
Carlos Lerma
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