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THE COOKIE JAR TRAP Nominated at Backlight Student Film Festival

The UGA MFA year 1 fall film THE COOKIE JAR TRAP, written and directed by Chaeyoon Lee (MFA ’26) was an official selection of the 2025 Backlight Student Film Festival. The film was produced by Connor Pannell (MFA ’26) and filmed by Eli Hutchinson (MFA ’26). Out of 120 total submissions, THE COOKIE JAR TRAP was among only 11 films selected for the festival.

The film was also nominated for both “Best Screenplay” and “Best Actress.”

Logline: An international student struggling with language confidence discovers a magical cookie that grants her perfect fluency.

Keep reading below for more on the Backlight Student Film Festival:

TheRed&Black:

Annual Backlight Film Festival illuminates talent of Georgia student filmmakers

  • Adaleigh Weber
  • Updated
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Attendees walk the red carpet at the Backlight Student Film Festival in Athens, Georgia, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Backlight is an annual film festival that accepts submissions from colleges and universities across the state of Georgia. (Photo/Katherine Davis; @kat_clicks)

Bright lights illuminated the concourse of the University of Georgia’s Tate Student Center on Sunday as the casts and crews of student-created films walked down the red carpet, celebrating their accomplishments of being nominated as finalists of the Backlight Student Film Festival.

This year marks the fourth annual Backlight Student Film Festival, a two-day event which aims to celebrate and showcase student filmmakers across the state for their creativity and provide them with opportunities to build connections with film industry professionals, according to its website.

With a record number of film submissions from a total of 19 colleges and universities, this year’s acceptance rate was less than 9%. Out of a total of 120 submissions, only 11 films were selected, including three mid-length films and eight short-films.

On Saturday, March 29, the evening began with a panel in the Tate Theater, followed by the mid-length film screenings, a brief intermission and the short-film screenings.

After showcasing all the films, the evening ended with distributing the Luminary Alumni Award, which goes to storytellers in film and television. The award seeks to find recipients who embody Backlight’s core values, which include community, collaboration and creativity.

Filmmaker Matthew Perkins was the recipient of the Luminary Alumni Award this year. Perkins created his own major in film production at UGA, and has documentary work which has been featured on The Today Show, USA Today, ESPN and more.

The next afternoon on Sunday, March 30, the Backlight team rolled out the red carpet and set up a glamorous environment for the alumni award winner, panelists, student finalists and sponsors to walk on, pose for photos and speak to the press.

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The press photographs cast and crew on the red carpet at the Backlight Student Film Festival in Athens, Georgia, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Backlight is an annual film festival that accepts submissions from colleges and universities across the state of Georgia. (Photo/Katherine Davis; @kat_clicks)

Some of the partners of this year’s Backlight Film Festival included Assembly Studios, Chispa House, Ciné, Georgia Film Office, Athens Film Office, Panavision, Lux Lighting and Leslie Jones Law.

Katherine Ostenson is part of Backlight sponsor Chispa House, a local production company in Athens. Ostenson said she believes Backlight is an important opportunity for students in film to participate in because it provides a starting point and validation from others, which could give students the confidence to continue pursuing future opportunities in the film industry.

After the red carpet closed at 3:30 p.m., it was time to reveal the winners of various awards. Finalists, panelists, judges, sponsors and audience members all made their way to the Tate Theater for the reveal.

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Attendees sit in the Tate Theater at the Backlight Student Film Festival in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Backlight is an annual film festival that accepts submissions from colleges and universities across the state of Georgia. (Photo/Katherine Davis; @kat_clicks)

Music composer Josh Tillman from Savannah College of Art and Design won the Best Score award for the animated short film, “Get Gulled.”

Director, writer and editor Calvin Bowers from the University of North Georgia won the Best Editing award for the short film, “For the Love of Cats.”

The Best Actor award went to actor Michael Mack, who starred in the short film, “Hot Tub High.”

The “Best Actress” award went to actress Lilly Nelson from the short film, “Wanderer.” “Wanderer” also won the “Best Sound Design” award, received by sound editor Luka Briglevich.

“Wanderer” is a short film following the story of Gabriel, a father with dementia who calls a retirement home to ask to be taken away, but dials his daughter’s number instead.

The Best Mid Length Film went to “Ascesis,” starring actor Gustavo Garcia. “Ascesis” is a coming-of-age film following the story of 13-year-old Xavi, who in the dusk of his Catholic confirmation is tormented by a creature in his closet, all while confronting family expectations and discovering who he is as he grows up.

The Audience Choice Award went to “Sunday Dinna,” written and directed by SCAD student Samantha Venturo. Venturo also received the “Best Director,” “Best Screenplay” and “Best Short Form Film” awards.

Additional awards to “Sunday Dinna” include “Best Production Design” and “Best Cinematography.”

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Samantha Venturo walks up to the stage at the Backlight Student Film Festival in Athens, Georgia, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Backlight is an annual film festival that accepts submissions from colleges and universities across the state of Georgia. (Photo/Katherine Davis; @kat_clicks)

“Sunday Dinna” is a comedic short film revolving around an Italian-American family in Queens, New York, who sit down for their traditional “Sunday Dinna.” After multiple plates of Italian dishes such as moozadell and meatballs, Bella, played by actress Bella Savastand, reveals that she is a vegan.

“In a world where modern views meet traditional views, it’s important to just understand the difference between those and that we’re always going to be changing and evolving, and that love and acceptance will always have a seat at the table,” Venturo said.

When asked what her biggest takeaway about the film industry as a whole was after creating “Sunday Dinna,” Venturo said staying true to yourself and what aligns with you is important as a filmmaker.