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Tangier to Casablanca*

Philip Baites (IES Abroad Rabat, Academic Year 2017-18 | University of Tennessee – Knoxville)

In Philip’s Words:

“This original song and film encapsulates my nine month study abroad with IES Abroad Rabat in Morocco. Featuring a train ride, Chefchaouen (the “Blue City”), Rabat, the Sahara Desert, cameos by two sweet neighbor girls, my Arabic professor, and my precious host mother, Doha, as the central character, “Tangier to Casablanca” is a story of pain, joy, longing, and journeys intertwining. Two months after I arrived in Morocco, my host mother received news that her father unexpectedly passed away in Canada. Ultimately, this tragedy led to a bond formed between us, while also teaching me a valuable lesson. We are all on a journey. And it’s not the places or sites seen that have the lasting impact on us. It’s the people.”

What Our Jury Said:

“We have seen music videos before, but this one is the first original song I recall. Philip is a talented songwriter who delivers a moving story about his host mother, and he is an excellent musician as well. The videography is carefully synched with the lyrics and captures the beauty of Morocco equally against the melancholic narrative. Finally, Philip truly ‘captures the spirit of Study Abroad’ by showing his audience the profound impact the time with his host family has upon him over the more common travel narratives we see in many entries.”

— Leland L’Hote (IES Abroad Program Dean & Former Film Studies Professor)

Penn Harrison (IES Abroad Barcelona, Spring 2018 | University of Texas at Austin)

In Penn’s Words:

“British spies, time travel, and the Spanish Civil War collide on one mysterious night in Barcelona.”

What Our Jury Said:

“Brilliant, provocative, and thrilling. It does not spoon-feed its audience but makes you stay engaged throughout the film. I may have to watch the film several more times to catch every nuance, so it demonstrates depth. It captures the spirit of study abroad and interacting with the locals which is something that is often hard to capture in dialogue. Loved every minute.”

— Ismael Byers* (2017 Film Festival Grand Prize Winner)

Erik Patak (IES Abroad Auckland, Fall 2017 | University of Rochester)

In Erik’s Words:

“What really makes study abroad worth it? When I made the decision to study abroad, I was in it for the awesome hikes and natural beauty of New Zealand. I thought the hard part was going to be meeting people and adjusting to a new place. By the end of my experience, my perspective had shifted. Though I did awesome treks through the backcountry and saw the most beautiful sights I've ever seen, it was the people I traveled with which made studying abroad a real adventure. Chris McCandles, immortalized in the book and movie "Into the Wild", famously is quoted with "happiness only real when shared." To be sure, you can appreciate being alone, but sharing a memory with someone else makes it that much more special. And, in the end, I found that saying goodbye to the wonderful people I met in New Zealand was harder than walking away from any great hike. People make the place.”

What Our Jury Said:

“Makes me wish I had more than two thumbs to stick up.  This is a smart and entertaining film that shows real talent and skill.  A lot of work went into this -- and pre-planning, since the narration was not added later but shot on location and knew where it was going.  Wonderful variety of camera techniques and tricks.  Excellent editing.  Loved the maps, the music choices, the cloud montages.  The ending ranks as one of the best 90 seconds of vacation clips.  The film and the on-screen filmmaker exhibit a confidently warm and goofy charm.”           

—Willard Huyck (Writer, Director & Producer, Academy Award Nominee)