About Us - Campus MovieFest

History

Like the story from a classic Hollywood film, Campus MovieFest (CMF) came from a humble beginning. Seven years ago, a band of friends attending Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, thought it would be fun to give computers, camcorders and training to students to make their own movies and then share the five minute films the teams created. The four Emory students had no idea the project would change the course of their lives and the lives of countless students across the globe as the program grew to become the world’s largest student film festival.

Now, much has changed since that first festival in 2001. but the mission and passion remain the same. The goal of CMF is still to showcase the next generation of moviemakers and empower people everywhere to share their stories with the world – a vision that has provided students the chance to learn skills that will be beneficial throughout their lives.

The numbers of students participating in Campus MovieFest each year have grown significantly since the first 1,500 students. 100,000 students attending 35 different schools in the United States and the UK have made over three thousand movies and CMF is just getting started. CMF has awarded over $300,000 in prizes, plus the events offer global exposure to students thanks to partners including TBS and Turner Classic Movies as well as media coverage from The Today Show to ABC World News Tonight to CNN. The phenomenon shows no sign of slowing either, because as long as students have a story to tell, CMF will be there to bring their tale to the world.

Working With Partners

Over the years, Campus MovieFest has partnered with several Fortune 500 companies and other amazing organizations dedicated to helping students share their stories by offering the filmmaking event to participants at no cost. The list of partners has included Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola, The History Channel, Virgin Mobile, mtvU, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and TBS. Apple remains the premier technology provider of CMF.

Partnering with CMF provides a unique opportunity for organizations to reach out to students at 35 schools around the country. Each school participates for months at a time, allowing organizations to engage campuses authentically and effectively.

Campus Ambassadors

Every Campus MovieFest school event incorporates the traditions, strengths and resources to reflect the characteristics that make each school special, and Campus Ambassadors are the key to accomplishing this task. A CA’s duties can range from helping get the word out around campus to hosting the finale. The student leaders are at the heart of CMF’s efforts to create a unique event.

Interested in Joining the Team?

Campus MovieFest is a growing program, spreading to more schools across the globe each year. This growth is made possible by a passionate team. If you would like to join the team in leading the world’s largest student film festival, please check out our current opportunities here.

The Photos

The photos available on this site of Campus MovieFest events have been a collaborative effort over the years. Special thanks are due to:

Vijay Makar (all events)
Ajay Pillarisetti (all events)
Matt Seuferer (California Finalé 06 )

Other Events and Services

The creators of Campus MovieFest (Ideas United) produces other movie-related events including Corporate MovieFest. The program is aimed at bringing the same spirit and teambuilding aspects of CMF’s student filmmaking events to the corporate world as well as providing a unique platform for all levels of an organization to communicate with one another. Ideas United also offers an array of professional services and print production, specializing in both personal and corporate projects available through IU Digital. Contact us for more information.