The “Last Looks” student film festival will once again roll out the red carpet on Friday, Mar. 20, at 7:00 p.m. in Lupton Auditorium.
Now in its sixth year, this beloved festival annually showcases the exceptional creative talents of OU’s student filmmakers. With submissions open to students of any major, the festival features a red-carpet screening juried by industry professionals in film, television and media.
Festival participants submitted their films under four categories: narrative, documentary, experimental and promotional. The judging panel will award the most compelling and well-executed film in each category, as well as the three most outstanding films overall.
But the judges aren’t the only ones determining the standout films. Through a live vote, the audience will select the “Audience Favorite,” offering attendees a chance to recognize the films that pull at their heartstrings, laugh out loud and erupt into applause.
Additionally, the “Capturing Culture Award” recognizes the top three films that most effectively answer the question: “What does culture mean to you?” Sponsored by OU’s student-led PR firm, the Weltner Consulting Agency, this is a unique award that encourages participants to reflect on their relationship with their own culture, interpret it through film, and share their discoveries with the audience.
Notably, top performers at “Last Looks” go on to exhibit their work at festivals across the country. Last year’s standout film “Juliette,” directed by Emma Jean Scott ’25 and produced by Devlynn Miller ’26, was selected for Atlanta’s 2025 “Out on Film” festival (which was reported to have ) and the “OUTSouth” film festival in Durham, North Carolina, and is the second largest LGBTQ+ film festival in the southeast. The film has amassed more than 1.4 million views on YouTube.
2024’s First Overall “Janitor 988,” directed by Justin Edwards ’25 ²¹²Ô»åÌýKarla Ojeda ’24, garnered several accolades at regional and international festivals, including a “Best Actor” win for Edwards at the Cobb International Film Festival.
The judges for this year’s “Last Looks” film festival include:
- Greg Crawford, sound designer and ADR mixer
- Rhavynn Drummer, director, producer, and casting director
- Mary Grace Higgs, Emmy-winning producer, director and writer
- Michael Monty, director
- Dan Rosenfelt, producer and co-founder of Electric Owl Studios
At “Last Looks,” every film is punctuated by resounding applause — it’s as much fun for the filmmakers as it is for the audience. With so much talent on full display, the films at “Last Looks” are must-see.
