Student Work to Premiere at Chagrin Documentary Film Festival

With one of the region’s only dedicated high school film departments, St. Edward offers students more than just a class—it offers a platform. The Class of 2025 IB Film students turned their cameras toward the meaningful partnerships between Edsmen and residents of Ennis Court, the skilled nursing facility just across the street. The result is a powerful short film that has earned a coveted screening at the renowned Chagrin Documentary Film Festival.

The documentary focuses on Opening Eyes Through Art, a service project where students are paired with older adults experiencing cognitive impairment. Over several weeks, they work side by side—creating art, sharing conversation, and forming connections that encourage self-expression and help residents rediscover their voices in meaningful ways.

“At its heart, By Name is story about personal connections,” says Morgan Crawford, Executive Director of the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival. “It clearly showed us how much the students thought about how to tell that story and keep people engaged. Seeing teenagers approach storytelling with that level of creativity and intention is really impressive.”

The festival’s screening committee, made up of film enthusiasts from across Northeast Ohio, spends months reviewing more than 500 submissions—each screened at least three times—before final selections are made. Against that backdrop, the choice of By Name speaks to the film's impact and quality.

The 14-minute documentary By Name will screen on October 10 and 11, inviting audiences to experience how St. Edward students use creativity and compassion to bridge generations.

Directed by Aiden Black ’25, Jeremiah Badu ’25, Dillon Crane ’25, Michael Drvenkar ’25, Tyler Gedeon ’25, Owen Hoelker ’25, Conall McMahon ’25, and Nicholas Schraff ’25, the film is part of this year’s Chagrin Documentary Film Festival.

TICKETS

Behind this achievement is a film program designed to give students an uncommon head start. St. Edward offers seven in-demand classes and a reputation for preparing students to excel both academically and creatively. Under the leadership of Department Chair Lydia Munnell and Teacher Will Fistek, students gain hands-on experience with professional-grade equipment and projects that rival collegiate programs.

“The IB documentary project has become a hallmark of the department—it’s something students sign up for intentionally,” says Munnell. She emphasizes that students are practicing skills many colleges don’t introduce until junior or senior year, giving Edsmen an early edge in a competitive industry.

That edge shows. St. Edward graduates have gone on to some of the nation’s most prestigious film schools and earned recognition at national festivals, often crediting their start to the program. Current students echo that enthusiasm.

Senior Ethan Burke ’26, now in his third film class, reflects: “Film is where I feel I can express myself the most. It’s definitely one of the more creative classes IB offers.” Last year, Ethan produced a three-minute short he was proud of; this year, he and his classmates are tackling a more ambitious documentary. “We have a lot of creative control,” he explains. “It’s a lot like what being a filmmaker in a professional studio is like.”

Even for those not pursuing film careers, the program teaches lasting skills. “The analytical side of the class—the way we watch, compare, and contrast films—will definitely apply elsewhere,” Ethan says.

The St. Edward Film Department gives students the tools, confidence, and creative freedom to tell stories that stand out.