21st Annual Diogenes Film Festival Praises Students & Honors Tim de la Torre

On Thursday, May 29, the Visual Arts Department at Pacific Union College hosted its 21st annual Diogenes Film Festival at the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena. With 130 attendees, the festival showcased 20 films from the school year and featured some movies from the previous year.

PUC’s Diogenes Film Festival greatly benefits students, providing them with an outlet to share their creativity with a broader audience. Although their films are not made specifically for the festival, seeing them on a big theatre screen gives them a sense of pride in all their work and motivates them to continue doing their best.

“Another great aspect is the sense of community that it builds, not only within our department but with our entire school and the outer community,” said Nephtali Marin, PUC lecturer of visual arts, referring to the film festival. “Our films span outside of our spaces, whether it be filming in other departments, the outer community, or using friends as actors. Diogenes allows us to come together and see everyone’s contributions and hard work.”

This year, Marin and Professor Melissa Henry Pratt co-hosted, sitting alongside Professor Tim de la Torre as the judges. With three award categories, freshman Jacob Capiña received the Filmmaker for the Future award. This award recognizes a freshman, sophomore, or junior whose work is considered the highest within the department by the judges based on multiple projects, both their own and those of others.

Two of Capiña’s films, Second Self and Phantom's Lament, were also shown during the festival. Second Self focused on a young man who is puzzled over an inaccessible hour and an empty neighborhood until a familiar figure reminds him he's not alone, while Phantom’s Lament was about a lonely ghost who performs a tune haunted by time until a young woman wanders in and recalls the memory behind the melody.

The audience voted for senior Javad Karimabadi to win the Audience Choice Award for his film Father Time. His short film evoked a range of emotions in the audience as they watched a young Iranian man travel back in time to reconnect with his estranged father, a college student, in an attempt to repair their strained relationship. Through drama and comedy, Karimabadi paid tribute to his Iranian culture.

Third-year student Nils Anderson won the Orson’s Disciple Award for co-writing, producing several projects, and providing feedback to his classmates. This award recognizes his dedication to investing time and effort in assisting others with their films and helping them achieve success.

These student films can take anywhere from a few hours to years to complete. Together with their professors, they revisit their past projects to revise them for the film festival, which adds even more time than they initially devoted. Marin shared they had a project that took two years and another film that finished in less than three hours for their three-hour challenge assignment.

The Diogenes Film Festival demonstrates the importance of this event to the entire department. “It ranges from extremely stressful, exhausting, and high pressure to a big celebration,” said Marin. “We are always excited for the event, but leading up to it can be quite stressful, especially as everyone finalizes their projects. But once we’ve made it to that day, we rejoice! It’s a very emotional event as many of their stories are personal to them. On top of the relief from all the hard work and late nights.”

This year was bittersweet as it was de la Torre’s last Diogenes Film Festival. The department presented a heartwarming slideshow from all his years at PUC, including old photos and messages from previous and current students, filling the room with laughter and tears. De la Torre recalls feeling both happy and sad while watching the slideshow, yet still glad to feel loved and connected to his department.

Afterward, the spotlight shifted to de la Torre’s moment to share a heartfelt speech. Teaching part-time this year, he was not in charge of the festival and passed on that reign to his colleagues. Watching them work well together and seeing his students supported is everything he dreamed of. When looking back at this, de la Torre says he feels "contentment knowing I’m leaving and being at peace with the decision. I care about this program and my students."

De la Torre’s colleagues and students doubt this will be the last time they will see him once the school year is over. With being such a crucial part of the visual arts department, they know they will continue to go to him for advice in the future.

“I’m not sure I have the right words to express the impact Tim has made on this department and each of our lives,” shared Marin. “He’s been a pillar, not only going above and beyond his own responsibilities but through his connection with the students. Always being around to answer questions, help on projects, or provide advice. The foundation he’s built is strong, and it’s taken work to fill in his shoes.”

Some students shared that de la Torre influenced them to be better filmmakers and how his presence extends beyond the screen, entering everyone’s hearts.

“The department has been home for a long time,” said de la Torre. “It’s been a place of so much growth for me in so many ways. The freedom to explore whatever my creative or technical interests were, and the ability to hang out with so many brilliant, funny, and cool students. To get to support them and feel their love in return has been one of the best experiences of my life. My colleagues are incredible and have supported me, sharpened me, and shared the ups & downs of life together with me. I’m sad to go, but I have no intention of this being my ‘last Diogenes,’ even if I’m no longer a faculty member at PUC.”

From cheers of support to the touching tributes, the department's contributions to one another are nothing short of admiration and respect. The Diogenes Film Festival showcases the strong sense of family community that is created within the walls of Fisher Hall.