Congratulations to MFA Candidate Julianna Villarosa, who has been a programmer for the prestigious Slamdance Film Festival's Experimental Category this year. The festival has just announced the full program that you can find in the link below, and in light of the pandemic, the screenings will be all online and free. The festival will run February 12-25, 2021.

Ungar, a professor of cinematic arts, has provided extraordinary service to the university, including as departmental executive officer or chief administrator for five departments and one major program. Through this service, he has played a vital role in the hiring and advancement of generations of junior colleagues and the growth of innovative curricular programs. He frequently agrees to take on these responsibilities at times of challenge or crisis. He stepped in as interim director of the International Writing Program at a crucial moment when it was threatened with closure, and worked tirelessly to sustain it. In his most recent leadership role as interim departmental executive officer of cinematic arts, he spearheaded the collaborative effort to create a new Bachelor of Arts degree in screenwriting arts. He has influenced the careers of countless scholars through his generous dedication to team building and mentoring.

During his time at the University of Iowa, graduate student Hao Zhou has sought to increase LGBTQ representation in art and media by making LGBTQ-based independent films and photography projects.