Students are gaining hands-on filmmaking experience, and national-caliber exposure, through their participation in the Capital City Film Festival this spring.
Thirty-six Michigan State students in digital storytelling are competing in the festival’s 12-day film challenge, where participants are tasked with writing, filming and editing an original short film under tight deadlines.
Over the course of two weeks, students move from concept to completion — drafting scripts, shooting on location and completing post-production — before screening their work alongside professional filmmakers. In recent years, MSU student teams have earned recognition at the festival, including $5,000 in prize money.
The experience offers more than competition. Students attend screenings, connect with filmmakers and participate in a professional festival environment, including walking the red carpet and engaging with the local film community.
Student documentary to premiere at festival
In addition to the competition, student work will be featured in the festival lineup.
“Organic Network,” a documentary created by students in the Digital Storytelling program, will screen at 6 p.m. April 14 as part of the festival program “Exploring Joy as Resistance and Our Natural Connections.” The screening will take place at Central United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in Lansing.
Directed by Elena Shepherd, a Media and Information graduate, the film explores urban farming in Flint, Michigan, and its impact on the local community. Rachel Kozlowski, a senior in the Digital Storytelling program, served as producer, and Chris Cummings, a Digital Storytelling graduate, was part of the production team.
“Organic Network shows what urban farming is in Flint and what it means to the community,” Sheperd said. “Each documentary is an opportunity to learn something new and share important stories with audiences.”
The project builds on earlier work led by faculty and introduces new voices from Flint’s farming community, highlighting the role of storytelling in documenting local impact.
Kozlowski said the experience helped shape her career goals.
“Working on this film helped me discover my love of the documentary medium,” she said. “I want to continue producing films after graduation, and ‘Organic Network’ was an essential part of that journey.”
Experiential learning in action
Projects like the Capital City Film Festival give students the opportunity to apply classroom learning in real-world settings — from directing and producing to cinematography and sound design.
Through collaborative production environments and faculty mentorship, students develop both technical skills and professional confidence while contributing meaningful stories to broader audiences.
The festival will conclude with screenings and an awards ceremony in mid-April.
By Claire Dippel