Interlochen Cinema Collective film ‘Jedo’s Dead’ to make its world premiere at 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival

The Collective’s inaugural film was produced by a team of alumni, faculty, staff, student, and guest collaborators.

A scene from the Cinema Collective film "Jedo's Dead"

Update: On March 13, 2024, "Jedo's Dead" was announced as the jury award winner in the Texas Shorts Competition.

”Jedo’s Dead,” an original short film produced by a cohort of Interlochen-affiliated filmmakers, will make its world premiere this March at the 31st annual SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas.

Written by Interlochen alumna Sara Nimeh (IAC 00-06, IAA 06-08) and produced in April 2023, “Jedo’s Dead” is the inaugural production of the Interlochen Cinema Collective—a group of Interlochen alumni, faculty, students, and visiting artists dedicated to creating fully realized, professional-caliber films.

The film’s crew included Director of Film & New Media Michael Mittelstaedt as executive producer; Nimeh as director; Shane Bagwell (IAA 15-17) as director of photography; Dylanger Bates (IAC 07, IAA 07-09) as production designer and props master; Ellyn Church (IAA 06-07; IAC St 07, 09, 11) as producer; F. Hudson Miller (IAA 72-76, IAC St 76-78) as sound designer; and Lesley Alicia Tye (IAA 90-93, IAA Fac 02-present) as costume supervisor. Twelve Arts Academy Film & New Media students served as production assistants.

“The Cinema Collective is an idea that I have been discussing with our Film & New Media faculty and alumni for over ten years,” Mittelstaedt said. “To have our first film showcased by a prestigious festival like SXSW is an affirmation of the valuable opportunity the Collective provides—especially to our students. The Cinema Collective makes good on our promise to prepare current students as future collaborators by working together to foster a community of filmmakers who are generous, kind, human, and committed to the process of telling good stories.”

Founded in 1994, the SXSW Film & TV Festival unites film students, creators, and fans from around the world for nine days of screenings, networking events, red carpets, conference programming, and more. The event culminates in the annual SXSW Film & TV Awards, which honor the superlative creativity demonstrated during the festival. SXSW is also a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards Short Film competition, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards (Oscars), and BAFTA awards.

Want to be a part of other amazing opportunities for young filmmakers? Join the Film & New Media program at Interlochen Arts Academy. Start your application today.