Baylor Film & Digital Media Shines Big at the Austin Film Festival

Baylor University’s Department of Film & Digital Media made a massive splash at this year’s Austin Film Festival (AFF), with students and faculty taking center stage for world premieres, insightful panel discussions, and unforgettable networking experiences.

Led by Maverick and Kyle Howerton, the official group of Baylor students experienced an incredible weekend on multiple levels, diving deep into the heart of the independent filmmaking community.

Major World Premieres Take Center Stage

The biggest flex of the festival belonged to our exceptional student and faculty creators:

• Addy Candejas: MFA candidate Addison Candejas celebrated the world premiere of her short film, The Least of These, which was selected as part of AFF’s prestigious "Sincerely Human" shorts block.
• Brandon Dickerson: Assistant Professor Brandon Dickerson celebrated the world premiere of Welcome to the Dreamscape, a project he co-produced. In addition to the premiere, Dickerson shared his industry expertise by serving as a featured panelist across three separate Art, Craft, and Business of Film & Television roundtables during the festival.

Exclusive Insights and Mentorship

Beyond the screenings, the Baylor contingent enjoyed a major highlight: a private conference session with acclaimed filmmaker Kat Candler (Hellion, Queen Sugar, 13 Reasons Why), offering students a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the realities of writing, directing, and sustaining a career in independent film.

From inspiring panels to celebrated premieres, the Austin Film Festival proved to be an unforgettable showcase of the talent, dedication, and creative momentum driving Baylor Film & Digital Media forward.