UA Students Selected for Cannes Film Festival Internships

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Four students from The University of Alabama’s telecommunication and film department have been selected for internships in the American Pavilion Student Program at the Cannes Film Festival.

The American Program is the only student program officially recognized and sanctioned by Cannes. Students gain hands-on experience in the creative process of film making at one of the most esteemed festivals in the world.

“This is a very competitive national internship, and we are very excited that four of our students were chosen,” said Dr. Glenda Cantrell Williams, department chair of telecommunication and film. “This really speaks to the strength of our production and production management programs and to the talent of our students.”

Students selected were Brandon Sparks, of Tuscaloosa, Kat Delay, of Tuscaloosa, Branna Burns, of Anniston, and Amy Tippit, of Spanish Fort.

As interns at the American Pavilion, the students will travel to France May 12-27, where they will have the opportunity to attend workshops and seminars, meet and interact with industry professionals and participate in The Roundtable Series, that allows students to have small group discussions with noted individuals from both the creative and business side of the film industry.

Alumni of the internship program include Morgan J. Freeman, (whose film “Hurricane Streets” became the first narrative film to win three awards at The Sundance Film Festival) and Jeff Nichols, (director, writer, producer, “Take Shelter”) and Alexa Alemanni, (SAG Award-winning actress).

The telecommunication and film department is part of the College of Communication and Information Sciences.