I'm excited to showcase filmmakers from all over the state of Georgia. It will be so rewarding to meet creatives that otherwise I wouldn't have the opportunity to meet.
Timi is third-year at the University of Georgia studying Entertainment Media Studies with two certificates in Music Business and New Media. Two years ago, she started as a red carpet correspondent for the Backlight Film Festival. Since then, she's become the President of the Entertainment and Media Industries Club at UGA, a media manager at Clear Mountain Entertainment, and a barista at Bitty & Beaus. Outside her professional pursuits, she loves skateboarding, teaching her friends American Sign Language (ASL), and supporting the Athens music scene. When she isn't preparing for the third annual Backlight Film Festival, you can find her at Ciné!
I'm super excited to see Backlight grow and expand this year as we open up submissions for more people to enter and expand our network. I'm also looking forward to connecting with everyone on the team and starting to put on this incredible festival soon :).
Hi, I'm a third year Entertainment and Media Studies student who's also pursuing a Business Minor and New Media Certificate. I love all things film, digital media, and marketing. Currently, I co-run the social media and marketing for the EMST Industries club. In my free time I love to run, travel, and spend time with friends and family!
Backlight has been here for as long as I have been at UGA, and I am so grateful to have made my way from volunteer to intern to festival host. It has always been such a wonderful place to bring visibility to creatives and artists all around the state. Go Backlight!
Hi everyone! My name is Whit, and I will be co-hosting Backlight this year. Since I have been at UGA, I have been involved with various organizations such as the UGA Industry, Grady Newsource, the UGA Agency and Backlight for the past two years. I love watching movies and all things comedy. I am the president of Sharkwing Sketch Comedy, where I enjoy writing and performing... especially alongside my co-host and frequent collaborator Talia Bloch. If you enjoyed Murder on the Dance Floor last year, this year we will (or at least try to) make Backlight 2025 the most unforgettable one yet!
Camden is looking forward to fostering an even more inclusive environment for filmmakers and audiences alike. Camden believes that showcasing diverse voices and unique perspectives is vital for the festival's success. He can’t wait to engage with the community, connect with emerging talents, and help present a lineup that not only entertains but also sparks meaningful conversations.
Originally from Decatur, Georgia, Camden Flinn is a current third-year Entertainment and Media Studies major, with a minor in Film Studies. With aspirations to write for film and television, Camden immerses himself in the world of cinema. When he’s not discussing the latest films, he enjoys spending time with friends, playing basketball, going for runs, and engaging in reading and writing. Camden has gained valuable experience as a production assistant on various commercial and film sets and has interned with different directors, where he has had the opportunity to shadow them and learn the intricacies of filmmaking. Outgoing and talkative, Camden cherishes his friendships and thrives on talking with new people, viewing each interaction as a chance to make a meaningful connection.
I’m excited to surround myself with other passionate story tellers! I hope to meet so many people and learn all it takes to bring a film festival to life.
Hi I’m Vivian Shea! I’m from Nashville, TN and I’m a 3rd year EMST major! You will usually find me editing for my social media channels,(@VivianShea) reading a cozy book, or writing! I’ve been doing content creation for 4 years, teaching people the basics of video editing. I love all things story-telling, and in my free time I will gladly sit down to tell you why I think the ending to Game of Thrones was actually… good?
I am excited to work with other ambitious students to make the BLSFF come to life. As a former volunteer, I am now excited to be a part of the team.
My name is Tyler Tran, and I’m from Charlotte, North Carolina. I’m currently in my third year at the University of Georgia, studying both Finance and Entertainment and Media Studies. From the start, my passion has always been film and storytelling. After graduation, I hope to work in the financial side of the entertainment industry, specifically in film distribution or media lending. On campus, I’m involved with The Industry, where I serve as an associate coordinator for the Production Collective. You can often find me signing up for crew calls, as I am always eager to continue learning and developing my skills.
I am so excited to honor everyone's creativity and see the films that students have worked so hard on. I also cannot wait to be funnier than my co-host Whit!
Talia is a senior EMST major with a dance and theater minor, getting what she has coined, "the jester degree". In her free time she is a member of Sharkwing Sketch Comedy, does stand-up, and aerial silk dance! This past summer she lived in LA and interned with the Groundlings comedy theater, and is ready to bring what she learned to the Backlight stage to entertain you all. She is also ecstatic to be hosting alongside her best friend Whit!!!!
Backlight is where I've met some of the most hardworking people I know! I've been a part of it since I was a freshman and have loved it every year! The sense of community the festival brings is what I am most excited for!
I really enjoy music, movies, and anything entertainment! I mainly work in social media and would love to go into entertainment media one day!
I'm most excited to attend the festival for the first time and see everyone's hard work come together! I also can't wait to grow closer with the talented team!
I am a third-year Entertainment and Media Studies student with a Design & Media minor from Peachtree City, Georgia. I've been a production assistant and done social media for student films! I've done freelance graphic design work for about 4 years and have also gained graphic design experience through personal projects and coursework. I am still figuring out exactly what I want to do career-wise, but I am as creatively oriented as they come and hope to find a career that fulfills that passion! My personal interests include traveling, going to concerts, cooking, trying new restaurants, music analysis, and critiquing matcha lattes.
I'm excited to see all of the new creativity that the films will showcase this year! I also can't wait to meet the rest of the new team!
Hi, I'm Shania! I'm a Marketing major at the University of Georgia. I've always had a passion for the creation of films and loved seeing how filmmakers get their foot through the door. That's why I'm thrilled to be part of the Backlight Student Film Festival as a Public Relations Assistant! Outside of Backlight, I love to explore new music, attend concerts, and obsess over musical theatre. I'm currently a Social Media Marketing Manager for Dr. John La Puma, as well as the Social Media Chair for UGA Asura. I love all things people, marketing, and design, and I'm happy I get to combine all of my interests at Backlight!
I am so excited to be returning to Backlight for the third year in a row and see how much it's grown. I can't wait to help produce content for the festival that showcases Backlight and all it has to offer!!
I am a fourth year Entertainment and Media Studies major, with minors in Business and Korean and a certificate in New Media. I currently work as a video intern for UGA's Marketing and Communications department. I have a deep love for the entertainment industry and the way that it can bring people together. When I'm not working on set, I enjoy rollerskating, cooking, and watching movies/TV with my friends!
I am most excited to see the everyone who worked on a project get celebrated. There is an incredible amount of hard work and ingenuity that goes into making a film, so I think it is amazing that Backlight gives these individuals a stage to recognize that effort. As part of Backlight press in the past, seeing those involved get interviewed on the red carpet seemed like such a validating and fulfilling experience.
Emma is a 4th year Communication Studies & Entertainment and Media Studies Major. She is a self-proclaimed pop-culture enthusiast with an encyclopedic knowledge of all things entertainment. Her interest in Art History has provided the foundation for producing inspired work that resonates with audiences. Emma works as an Executive Board member for the Lamar Dodd School of Art Ambassadors, in order to be an advocate of art to all of the Athens community. Overall, she is most motivated when she gets to interact with the work of her peers. Whether getting to watch short films or attend gallery openings, Emma is excited by all the creativity that lives at UGA and beyond.
I'm so excited to meet new people and work with others to make this event an amazing experience. I also can’t wait to see all the incredible films that students have poured hours of hard work into!
I am a second-year Entertainment Media Studies major at the University of Georgia. I’ve known I wanted to make films since fourth grade and have pursued this passion ever since. This past summer, I had the opportunity to work on a small feature as a camera operator and loved my time on set! Currently, I’m an active member of The Industry, Production Collective, and the Backlight Film Festival. I love meeting other creatives and look forward to continuing my work on films throughout my time at UGA!