IES Abroad Student Stories on the Big Screen

We figured there's no one better to tell the story of study abroad than our phenomenal students, so in 2014 we launched our Study Abroad Film Festival (the first in the industry of its kind!), which asks students to capture the spirit of study abroad—both what it meant to them, and how it redefined their world.

Over the past nine years, 600+ student films have put us on the edge of our seats, demonstrating the transformative power of study abroad and the creative abilities of IES Abroad students. Experience the magic for yourself below!

Explore Winning Student Films  Submit Your Film

Tell the World Your Story

Year after year we are awed by how thoughtful and talented our student filmmakers are. From poignant music videos to compelling documentaries, our students stop short of nothing to creatively depict their experiences from abroad. Ready to show us your take on study abroad?

Learn How to Submit Your Film

About the Festival

Founded in 2014, the IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival was the first student-focused study abroad film festival in the industry. Celebrating its ninth anniversary in 2023, the IES Abroad Film Festival has provided students a platform to voice their global journey through their own words and video footage, capturing unique views into their life-changing study abroad experiences – showing what the experience meant to them and how it redefined their world. 

Originally, the entire Film Festival was hosted as on-demand content on Facebook. In 2017 it was hosted as a live event for the first time at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and emceed by Kate Flannery – best known for her 9 seasons as Meredith, on NBC’s hit show, The Office. The 2018 and 2019 Festivals were hosted by Richard Roeper, best known as the film critic for The Chicago Sun-Times. Our 2020 Festival was hosted virtually due to Covid, and we were excited to return to an in-person Festival in 2022 hosted by Patrick Jager, an IES Abroad Vienna alum and award-winning, multi-discipline media executive.

The Film Festival event has raised more than $700,000 for IES Abroad Scholarships and more than 160+ colleges and universities have been represented through 600+ student film submissions!

Experience Our Past Film Festivals

How the Winning Film Is Selected

Submit Your Film by the Deadline
To be considered, you must submit your film before the deadline. Be sure your film meet all the requirements!
Learn How to Submit
Initial Review
IES Abroad staff spend hours watching and whittling down student film submissions, checking that films meet contest requirements.
Read the Rules
Jury Review
Once our staff select the pool of Semi-Finalists, they are sent to our highly esteemed international jury who watch and score all Semi-Finalist films.
Meet the Jury
Finalists Chosen
After our jury scores each Semi-Finalist, the top three filmmakers become our Finalists. Finalists are invited to Chicago to attend the Film Festival.
See Past Finalists
You Vote!
The film with the most votes is announced as the Grand Prize Winner live at the Study Abroad Film Festival and awarded $1,500.
See Past Winners

Attend the Festival

It's like a night at the Oscars...but of study abroad films. Join us at our Film Festival in Chicago on October 16th, 2024 and walk the red carpet, get your photo snapped by the paparazzi (ok, our photographer), and grab popcorn on the way to the theater to view a selection of unique films from our talented young filmmakers.

Each year of our Festival is a night to remember, and we hope you join us. You'll laugh, you might cry, but above all you'll be inspired by the transformative power of study abroad and our student filmmakers. More information coming soon.

Amy Ruhter McMillan headshot
“The IES Abroad Film Festival gives students a platform to share their authentic, life-changing, global experiences through their own voices.”
Amy Ruhter McMillan • Senior Associate Vice President of Marketing & Founder of the IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival