By Ethan Chi

It was anything but quiet on set when student filmmakers from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts stepped onto the red carpet at First Look ‘26. Bringing style and panache to the Ray Stark Family Theater where the First Look finalists gathered to celebrate their final projects. Surrounded by peers and flash photography, the students who typically work behind the camera stepped into the spotlight for the night.

The School of Cinematic Arts hosted First Look, an annual ceremony recognizing outstanding student films completed in the past year and their filmmakers. The highlighted films vary across Animation, Comedy, Drama, and Genre. Each year, filmmakers submit their work for consideration to a faculty jury, where a select group of finalists is chosen to screen their work at the First Look Showcase.

Many of the films were finalized last year meaning several participants walking the red carpet were already alumni. Among them was recent Film and Television Production alum Mark J. Sanchez, who saw the event as a meaningful conclusion and celebration of his time at USC.

“When I found out that I was a finalist in my category– for me– regardless of whatever happens tonight, if it places third, second, first, I’m just really happy that this is how I’m going to end my SCA journey, at least as a student filmmaker, because this is the last thing that I did here, and I’m really proud of it,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez directed Adelante Matador (Onward Matador), a film about the art of bull fighting and Spanish culture.

“I feel like I came here knowing that I wanted to make a film like this, and I did, and not everyone gets to do that, and I understand how much of a privilege that is,” Sanchez said. “I’m so proud of everyone that worked on it.”

As the excitement on the red carpet wound down, and the finalists took their seats, the ceremony began. The theater dimmed and a montage of nominated films played across the screen.

“Look to your left, and look to your right, you will work with these people forever,” Dean Elizabeth Daley said to commence the ceremony.

Industry professionals introduced each category, and when each winner was announced, the theater erupted in applause, the night’s events creating an encouraging and supportive atmosphere. For SCA Film and Television Production student Laura Colbert, simply being in the room with her peers and watching her work on the big screen was incredibly powerful.

“Now, it feels amazing. If I could put it in one word, it’s great. When you get your work validated and you see all your hard work come to fruition on the big screen, it is one thing, but then for it to be so well received, not just by your family and friends, because that’s great too. But when outsiders start saying that the film touched them or it made them cry, that’s everything that you work for as a filmmaker,” Colbert said.

Colbert was the first runner-up for the Screenwriting category. Her 15-minute short film, Black Seeds Continue to Grow , follows a girl in the foster care system who searches for a mentor—an idea rooted in Colbert’s own experiences.

“It was important for me to tell that story, because I have cousins who are foster parents,” Colbert said. “Older foster child adoption is also a theme in the project, and I think hopefully it would inspire people to mentor, adopt, foster just do whatever they can to ‘each one, reach one.’”

Throughout the night, many filmmakers shared similar feelings of gratitude and enthusiasm as Sanchez and Colbert. One of them was Rhys Zemeckis, a senior SCA student, who directed Nuns with Guns , which won for outstanding comedy. “Well, this is a nice beginning to a trophy collection, hopefully, but it’s not even about that,” Zemeckis remarked. “I’m so happy that our team is all here. We’re all as one, and it’s very inspiring. People enjoying it makes me feel like I’m doing something right.”

Beyond recognition, the event also provides opportunities for future projects. Filmmakers in creative roles were invited to submit pitches to a three-person selection committee of industry professionals for a $50,000–$60,000 grant sponsored by Panavision, a company known for its high-end motion picture cameras and lenses. Five finalists were selected to present their ideas in person just hours before the ceremony.

Aaron Saffa, manager of the New Filmmaker Program at Panavision, described the relationship between emerging artists and the entertainment industry as mutually beneficial.

“For Panavision, we certainly love to support the amazing artists that come out of USC, but if I’m going to be totally honest about what my job is, it’s to develop relationships with emerging filmmakers who, in the future, will invest in Panavision’s resources,” Saffa said.

The winner of the Panavision grant was announced later in the ceremony, with SCA student filmmaker Uhoman Moltok receiving the award for her pitch, Baby Bump .

Saffa also reflected on the long-term impact of the program during the ceremony, saying,“And as I said during my speech, there are tons of people at Panavision who started their careers at USC, who are now partners and friends. And it’s really a partnership from the very beginning, and this is the very beginning of that,” Saffa said. 

With Saffa announcing the last award, the ceremony came to a close, many students buzzed with anticipation and pride. All in all, for many of the students and recent graduates, First Look was more than a celebration of completed work—it also signaled the beginning of their transition into the professional industry.

“Go back to that whole ‘being validated as just a bona fide storyteller’. It's one thing to do things in class. You do things in school.” Colbert said. “But when outside sources start saying, hey, there's something here, it just kind of makes all your life choices up until this point matter.”