UArts joins the 2020 B. PHL Innovation Festival

This year, University of the Arts is proud to be an official partner of the second annual B. PHL Innovation Festival. Launched in 2019, the event’s primary objectives include highlighting Philadelphia as an amazing place to live and work; creating meaningful connections between people and organizations doing innovative work; igniting new ideas; and inspiring the future’s change-makers. As outlined on the festival’s website, the 2020 edition will take place virtually and has an added “focus on response, recovery and change” in light of the ongoing impact of the pandemic and systemic racism on the city. Tickets to the event are free, with the option to donate to the PHL COVID-19 fund.

Over the course of three days, guest speakers will lead talks, group events and workshops highlighting tactics for economic recovery as well as diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across a range of industries. The thread of inclusion includes this year’s addition of a film festival component, presented by the 5 Shorts Project. According to the event description, the 5 Shorts Project seeks to empower aspiring digital media and performing artists “to create media that represents diverse cultures in society via the arts” and in keeping with those principles, the 2020 B. PHL Film Festival roster “is bringing the spotlight to up-and-coming filmmakers.”

Three films by members of the University of the Arts community are among the screenings planned for Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16. Those selections include the short documentary Abortion Helpline, This is Lisa by Film Program Director and Assistant Professor Mike Attie; the animated short Superstitions by Tonya Amyrin Rice BFA ’20 (Animation) and the live-action short Bubble by senior Film major Emily Mejia ’21. Regarding her inclusion in the event and how her work relates to representing diverse perspectives and starting conversations, Rice explained, “I personally try to create work that is authentic to myself in hopes that I represent the ideas and events that have shaped me. It is important to seek out the work of many, because it broadens our understanding and hopefully, deepens our empathy for fellow humans.”

For Mejia, this is the first time her work has been included in a festival of this scale, and she views this opportunity as a meaningful moment in her journey as a burgeoning filmmaker.

She said, “As a Hispanic female filmmaker entering an experimental low-fi piece in the eyes of a massive community of independent creatives, I’m honored that this festival sees my talent and trusts in it to represent this community.”

Learn more about the B. PHL Innovation Festival.

Register and attend the UArts Student Short Films screening.

Header image: Still from 'Superstitions'