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MassArt Student Takes Home Grand Prize at 2025 Independent Film Festival Boston Student Showcase
Still from The Hour, by MassArt Film/Video student, Rich Novas
- Press Release
- Film/Video
BOSTON — Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) Fourth-Year Film/Video student Rich Novas, BFA ’25, has won the Grand Prize – First Place Award at the 2025 Independent Film Festival Boston (IFFBoston) Student Showcase Program for his Senior thesis film, The Hour.
In a highly competitive field, The Hour was selected from twelve nominated works representing distinguished film programs across the greater Boston area, including Emerson College, Boston University, Tufts University, and Suffolk University. The competition was juried by industry professionals and included a mix of undergraduate and graduate-level MFA programs.
The Hour tells the gripping story of a couple expecting their first child who must navigate moral dilemmas and treacherous landscapes as they forge a path to safety in a world on the brink of collapse. The film poignantly suggests the profound ramifications of living in a politically divided world where people have lost sight of their shared humanity.
Tammy Dudman, chair of MassArt’s Film/Video department, shared the following about Rich’s academic journey: “The adage “it takes a village” comes to mind. Throughout his time at MassArt, Rich faced a number of headwinds. His achievement is a powerful manifestation of the collective dedication of MassArt’s faculty, studio managers, and administration, each helping to create an environment that affirmed, challenged, and empowered him to excel.”
To learn more about the MassArt Film/Video program, visit https://massart.edu/program/film-video/.
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About MassArt
The only independent public college of art and design in the country, MassArt was founded in 1873 in response to a bold idea: art and design are essential to our daily lives, and key to improving our society and economy. What began as a school to teach drawing is today a bold, comprehensive art and design institution that spans 18 undergraduate and nine graduate programs, certificates, continuing education, and post-baccalaureate study.
Media Contact
Rachael Dubinsky
Senior Communications Manager
(203) 561-7032
rdubinsky@massart.edu
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Building a Business Full of Sweet Surprises
Julie Nguyen
'25 BFA
- Student
Julie Nguyen, the artist and founder behind Fake Cakery
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“There are tons of resources available at MassArt and within the creative community, and I feel fortunate to be building my dream business.”
Graduating fourth-year student Julie Nguyen, BFA ‘25 Film/Video, didn’t set out to go to art school, or create a business from scratch for that matter. In fact, her high school didn’t offer any art classes. In high school while working at a bakery, she found herself making short food-related videos. It wasn’t until she decided culinary school and the restaurant business weren’t in her future that she found Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), where she thought she would get a film degree and go into food media. However, life however had other plans.
During her time at the bakery, she was drawn to the “fake cakes” that were on display to market the business. Julie started making these “fake cakes” with spackling, paint, foam and other materials for fun, but what she found was there was a real demand for her creations online. Little did she know, what started as a way to get rid of the “clutter” in her mom’s house would become a booming business, practically overnight.
“I put my “fake cakes” on Depop (a clothing selling website) under the home decor section and the items sold out,” said Julie. “Then I put them on Instagram and started taking pictures and making reels that were garnering millions of views. I was selling out of “fake cakes” faster than I could make them. That’s when I started doing themed collections and product drops.”
Fake Cakery inventory. Photo by Julie Nguyen
The reception for Nothing Is Edible: The Mini Mart, Julie’s senior thesis exhibition at MassArt, included a pop-up by Fake Cakery and featured sculptures, films, and interactive installations that explore food through memories, culture, and nostalgia. Photo by Dario St. Luc
Her business, Fake Cakery, became more than just a passion project, it was a full-time job. That’s when Julie decided to enroll in the Creative Economy Business Incubator Program, knowing she needed to be surrounded by peers who were also navigating the challenges that come along with a rapidly growing business.
“I formed so many connections with other artists, creators, and professionals that really helped me build confidence in talking about my business,” Julie shared. “That was a game changer as I was figuring out how to maintain my voice and focus on my goals for the business.”
Now, Julie works with national brands like Live Nation and Sony, while still doing exclusive product drops for the masses. She recently launched a new project, Nothing is Edible, that focuses on the motivation behind her creative venture.
Using her knowledge from building the Fake Cakery brand, Julie wants to focus her new brand on community. Her goal is to keep creating products that have multiple functions and make a more direct connection to her story.
“It’s all about taking the first steps,” Julie shared. “There are tons of resources available at MassArt and within the creative community, and I feel fortunate to be building my dream business.”
Fake Cakery inventory. Photo by Julie Nguyen
Fake Cakery inventory. Photo by Julie Nguyen
Film/Video BFA
Our Film/Video BFA program offers small class sizes and faculty who empower students as artists, critical thinkers, and media professionals.
Learn MoreCelebrating the Legacy of Renowned Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman
Frederick Wiseman
Filmmaker
- MassArt Common Good Award Honoree
Frederick Wiseman. Photo by Wolfgang Wesener.
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Frederick Wiseman, the iconic Boston-born filmmaker and theater director, has spent over six decades capturing the complexities of institutional life, both in the United States and around the world. Known for his unflinching documentary style, Wiseman’s films delve deep into the heart of human experience, offering an insightful and nuanced perspective on society’s inner workings.
In December 2024, MassArt honored Wiseman with a Common Good Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the world of documentary filmmaking. And this Spring, MassArt is proud to present screenings of three of his recently restored and rarely-seen works: The Last Letter, Deaf, and Meat, as part of a city-wide retrospective of his work. The MassArt screenings will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, and are free and open to the public—no tickets required.
A Storied Career
Over the course of his remarkable career, Wiseman has directed more than 40 captivating documentaries, each offering an unflinching look at the complexity of social institutions and human behavior. From the inner workings of hospitals, schools, and prisons to the everyday moments that make up our lives, his films reveal the intricate, often hidden layers of society. His contributions to the world of cinema have earned him countless accolades, including four Emmys, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival.
Wiseman’s cinematic eye captures not only the structures we navigate but also the people who populate them, allowing viewers to connect with the human stories behind the institutions. His observational style—devoid of narration—invites audiences to draw their own conclusions, making each film a deeply personal experience.
A Vision Beyond the Screen
Beyond his work in documentary filmmaking, Frederick has also made significant contributions to the theater. He has directed acclaimed productions in Paris at La Comédie Française, including Samuel Beckett’s Oh Les Beaux Jours, and in New York at the Theater for a New Audience. His diverse artistic vision has been documented in the book Frederick Wiseman, a comprehensive collection of essays published by Gallimard and the Museum of Modern Art.
Join Us for Special Screenings
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the work of a living legend. The screenings of The Last Letter (one of only two fictional Wiseman films), Deaf, and Meat on May 10, 2025, offer an exclusive glimpse into the work of one of the most celebrated filmmakers of our time. Whether you’re a longtime admirer or new to Wiseman’s work, these films will provide an unparalleled opportunity to see the world through his keen and compassionate lens.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Location: MassArt (Boston, MA)
Films: The Last Letter, Deaf, and Meat
Admission: Free, no ticket required
This is more than a film screening—it’s a chance to celebrate a filmmaker whose work continues to shape how we view the world.
Additional film screenings
Central Park
Frederick Wiseman, 1990, U.S., 176m
Central Park focuses on the famous New York City landmark and the variety of ways people make use of it, while illustrating the complex problems the New York City Parks Department deals with in order to maintain and preserve the park and keep it open and accessible to the public.
Coolidge Corner Theatre, Wednesday, April 23, 7pm
Tickets: www.coolidge.org
Zoo
Frederick Wiseman, 1993, U.S., 130m
Zoo is a film about the Miami Zoo, the care and maintenance of the animals by the keepers, the work of the veterinarians and their staff, and the visits to the zoo by people from all over the world. The film presents the wide diversity of interests and activities at the zoo and the interrelatedness of the animal, human, ethical, financial, technical, organizational, and research aspects of its operation.
Independent Film Festival Boston (IFFBoston), Sunday, April 27, at a time and venue TBA
Tickets: https://iffboston.org/
Boxing Gym
Frederick Wiseman, 2010, U.S., 91m
The subject of the film is an Austin, Texas institution, Lord’s Gym, which was founded over twenty years ago by Richard Lord, a former professional boxer. A wide variety of people of all ages, races, ethnicities and social classes train at the gym: men, women, children, doctors, lawyers, judges, business men and women, immigrants, professional boxers and people who want to become professional boxers alongside amateurs who love the sport and teenagers who are trying to develop strength and assertiveness. The gym is an example of the American “melting pot” where people meet, talk, and train.
Somerville Theatre, Tuesday, May 6, 7pm
Tickets: www.somervilletheatre.com
Public Housing
Frederick Wiseman, 1997, U.S., 195m
Public Housing documents daily life at the Ida B. Wells public housing development in Chicago. The film illustrates some of the experiences of people living in conditions of extreme poverty. Events include the work of the tenants’ council, street life, the role of police, job training programs, drug education, teenage mothers, dysfunctional families, elderly residents, nursery school, after-school teenage programs, and the activities of the city, state, and federal governments in maintaining and changing public housing.
Somerville Theatre, Tuesday, May 20, 6:30pm
Tickets: www.somervilletheatre.com
More MassArt Common Good Award Honoree stories
Toni Elka (BFA Painting ’86), Founder of Future Chefs
Toni Elka '86 BFA, 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award RecipientElka, founder of Future Chefs, has made a profound impact on youth development through culinary arts in Boston. Her nonprofit provides life skills, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to prepare young people for success. Elka’s leadership has been nationally recognized for empowering youth and fostering social change.
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Yinette Guzman (’08 BFA Architecture), Public Art Advocate and Placemaking Designer
Yinette Guzman '08 BFA, 2024 Common Good Award RecipientGuzman is celebrated for her leadership in curating the Punto Urban Art Museum (PUAM) in Salem, MA. Her efforts in transforming underserved communities through public art reflect her commitment to inclusivity, creative placemaking, and cultural preservation.
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From South Boston to the Silver Screen: The Art of Filmmaking
Terrence Hayes
'96 BFA
- Alumni
Award-winning cinematographer and MassArt alumnus Terrence Hayes.
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How One Alumnus is Harnessing Lessons Learned at MassArt in Hollywood
Fresh off a best film win from the Beverly Hill Film Festival, MassArt alumnus Terrence Hayes, BFA ’96, has built a remarkable career as a cinematographer. His work has been featured in major motion pictures like Knives Out, The Holdovers, and Challengers—for which he was recently nominated for a Society of Camera Operators award. Terence has collaborated with Hollywood heavyweights like Zendaya, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans—yet he remains grounded in the belief that filmmaking is, above all, a team effort.
“Whether it’s a $100 million or $5 million film, the industry requires a lot of people working together to tell a story,” Terrence says. “It’s a very collaborative art form.”
Growing up in South Boston, Terrence didn’t know anyone with a career in the arts. But his passion for drawing and painting was evident early, and his mom signed him up for classes at the Museum of Fine Arts when he was just five. Later, while sailing and studying drafting in high school, Terrence thought he was going to be a naval architect.
That changed when he enrolled at MassArt. The required first-year Studio Foundation program opened his eyes to a wide range of creative possibilities. By his sophomore year, he had found his path in film.
“The best part about my time at MassArt was being able to make mistakes and try again,” he says. “I’m so grateful for those experiences and how they’ve shaped who I am today.”
At the time, Quentin Tarantino was making waves, and many of Terrence’s peers were exploring gritty crime stories. His own senior thesis, Portrait of a Hitman, followed a conflicted assassin wrestling with morality and duty—a narrative that reflected his growing interest in character-driven storytelling and visual nuance.
Determined to blend his cinematography skills with narrative filmmaking, Terrence continued his education at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. There, he produced a new film every week—an intense pace that tested his adaptability and built on the creative resilience he developed at MassArt.
Over the years, his “film family,” as he calls it, has included several fellow MassArt alumni, including Alan Caso and Ian Dumas, BFA ’21. Those connections have led to lasting collaborations and opportunities, and he continues to value the community that began during his college years.
His advice for current students: “Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and what you want out of your education and beyond.”
His next project: filming the Anthony Bourdian biopic Tony in Provincetown, MA.
From his early days drawing in Southie to working on major motion pictures, Terrence Hayes is a testament to the power of following your passion, staying curious, and building community along the way.
Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and what you want out of your education and beyond.Terrence Hayes, BFA ’96
More Alumni stories
Pushing Visual Boundaries as an Illustrator
Abby Ouellette '19 BFAMassArt alumna Abby Ouellette ’19 explores girlhood, nostalgia, and editorial illustration as a bold, boundary-pushing freelance illustrator.
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MassArt Alum Alex Small-Butera Wins Emmy for Animation
Alex Small-Butera '08 BFAAlex Small-Butera sat down for an interview to explain about how he and Lindsay got from here to there, rising in their careers to receive this mark of achievement from Hollywood on their ability as animators, as artists.
View story
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MassArt Joins Greater Boston Film Institutions in Celebrating Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman
Frederick Wiseman. Photo by Wolfgang Wesener.
- Press Release
- Film/Video
City-wide retrospective to feature freshly-restored films by the iconic documentarian
On May 10, 2025, MassArt will offer screenings of three rarely-seen films: THE LAST LETTER, DEAF, AND MEAT
BOSTON — Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) joins The Brattle Theatre, Coolidge Corner Theatre, IFFBoston, Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFA), and Somerville Theatre in celebrating renowned Boston-born filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, offering screenings of three of his rarely-seen films.
The MassArt screenings, which all take place on Saturday, May 10, are free and open to the public with no ticket required (RSVP recommended) and will take place at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, 621 Huntington Avenue, Boston, in the DMC Lecture Hall.
MassArt is particularly honored to be a part of this historic celebration, as the College presented Wiseman with a Common Good Award, in recognition of his career and work, in December 2024.
Throughout his nearly six-decade career, Wiseman has been steadily and unflinchingly chronicling institutional life in America and abroad.
“Frederick Wiseman is one of our greatest living documentary filmmakers, and it is an honor to work together to pay tribute to his storied career,” said the participating film institutions in a joint statement.
Wiseman himself adds, “I am very pleased that the Brattle, Coolidge, MFA, Somerville, IFFBoston, and MassArt are collaborating on the retrospective of my films. It is a great honor for me that the theaters I spent so much time in, at various stages of my life, are working together to show the films.”
The Last Letter
Frederick Wiseman, 2002, U.S., 62m
Saturday, May 10, 2:30pm
The Last Letter follows a mother who was locked away in a Jewish ghetto of an occupied Ukrainian town in 1941 as she revisits her life in a last letter to her son, who was safe outside enemy lines. The letter, with its detailed observations of daily life in a ghetto, reveals the fear, courage, frailty, compassion and dignity of this woman as she reviews her life and faces her death.
Deaf
Frederick Wiseman, 1986, U.S., 164m
Saturday, May 10, 4pm
The School for the Deaf at the Alabama Institute is organized around a theory of total communication, i.e. the use of signs and finger spelling in conjunction with speech, hearing aids, lip reading, gestures and the written word. The film shows sequences dealing with various aspects of this comprehensive training such as teaching students and parents to sign; speech therapy; psychological counseling; regular academic courses; vocational training; disciplinary problems; parents visits; sports and recreational activity; training in living and working independently; and developing skills in home and money management.
Meat
Frederick Wiseman, 1976, U.S., 113m
Saturday, May 10, 7:15pm
MEAT traces the process through which cattle and sheep become consumer goods. It depicts the processing and transportation of meat products by a highly automated packing plant, illustrating important points and problems in the area of production, transportation, logistics, equipment design, time-motion study, and labor management.
The celebration of Wiseman’s work began on March 1 with a screening of his best-known and most controversial film Titicut Follies at the MFA. This wide-ranging retrospective features a selection of films spanning decades of the iconic filmmaker’s prolific career, including many of the 33 classics newly restored in 4K following a five-year restoration process by Zipporah Films and overseen by Wiseman.
A full schedule of screenings is listed below. Showtimes and ticket prices vary; please visit organization websites for details. Additional screenings and showtimes TBA.
The Brattle: https://brattlefilm.org/film-series/frederick-wiseman/ Coolidge Corner Theatre: https://coolidge.org/wiseman
IFFBoston: https://iffboston.org/
MFA: https://www.mfa.org/series/two-films-by-frederick-wiseman Somerville Theatre: https://www.somervilletheatre.com/
MassArt: https://calendar.massart.edu/
FILM SCHEDULE (listed by date)
Aspen
Frederick Wiseman, 1991, U.S., 146m
Aspen is an exploration during the winter months of the daily life and activities of the people who live, work, visit, and play in Aspen, famous in the 19th century for silver mining and now known for its scenic splendor, mountains, skiing, hiking, music, intellectual activity, and fashionable people.
Somerville Theatre, Tuesday, April 15, 7pm
Tickets: https://www.somervilletheatre.com/
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet
Frederick Wiseman, 2009, U.S., 158m
The Paris Opera Ballet is one of the world’s great ballet companies. The film follows the rehearsals and performances of seven ballets: Genus by Wayne McGregor, Le Songe de Medée by Angelin Preljocaj, La Maison de Bernarda by Mats Ek, Paquita by Pierre Lacotte, Casse Noisette by Rudolph Nureyev, Orphée and Eurydice by Pina Bausch, and Romeo and Juliette by Sasha Waltz. The film shows the work involved in administering the company and the coordinated and collaborative work of choreographers, ballet masters, dancers, musicians, and costume, set, and lighting designers.
Coolidge Corner Theatre, Thursday, April 17, 7pm
Tickets: www.coolidge.org
Central Park
Frederick Wiseman, 1990, U.S., 176m
Central Park focuses on the famous New York City landmark and the variety of ways people make use of it, while illustrating the complex problems the New York City Parks Department deals with in order to maintain and preserve the park and keep it open and accessible to the public.
Coolidge Corner Theatre, Wednesday, April 23, 7pm
Tickets: www.coolidge.org
Zoo
Frederick Wiseman, 1993, U.S., 130m
Zoo is a film about the Miami Zoo, the care and maintenance of the animals by the keepers, the work of the veterinarians and their staff, and the visits to the zoo by people from all over the world. The film presents the wide diversity of interests and activities at the zoo and the interrelatedness of the animal, human, ethical, financial, technical, organizational, and research aspects of its operation.
Independent Film Festival Boston (IFFBoston), Sunday, April 27, at a time and venue TBA
Tickets: https://iffboston.org/
Boxing Gym
Frederick Wiseman, 2010, U.S., 91m
The subject of the film is an Austin, Texas institution, Lord’s Gym, which was founded over twenty years ago by Richard Lord, a former professional boxer. A wide variety of people of all
ages, races, ethnicities and social classes train at the gym: men, women, children, doctors, lawyers, judges, business men and women, immigrants, professional boxers and people who want to become professional boxers alongside amateurs who love the sport and teenagers who are trying to develop strength and assertiveness. The gym is an example of the American
“melting pot” where people meet, talk, and train.
Somerville Theatre, Tuesday, May 6, 7pm
Tickets: https://www.somervilletheatre.com/
Public Housing
Frederick Wiseman, 1997, U.S., 195m
Public Housing documents daily life at the Ida B. Wells public housing development in Chicago. The film illustrates some of the experiences of people living in conditions of extreme poverty. Events include the work of the tenants’ council, street life, the role of police, job training programs, drug education, teenage mothers, dysfunctional families, elderly residents, nursery school, after-school teenage programs, and the activities of the city, state, and federal governments in maintaining and changing public housing.
Somerville Theatre, Tuesday, May 20, 6:30pm
Tickets: https://www.somervilletheatre.com/
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About MassArt
The only independent public college of art and design in the country, MassArt was founded in 1873 in response to a bold idea: art and design are essential to our daily lives, and key to improving our society and economy. What began as a school to teach drawing is today a bold, comprehensive art and design institution that spans 18 undergraduate and nine graduate programs, certificates, continuing education, and post-baccalaureate study.
About Frederick Wiseman
Frederick Wiseman is a film and theater director of 46 films, primarily focusing on American institutions. His most recent film, MENUS-PLAISIRS – Les Troisgros was released in fall 2023. In 2019, he was the honoree of the Library Lions Award from the New York Public Library and received the Pennebaker Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards. In 2018, he was the Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry at Harvard University. In 2016, he received an Honorary Award for lifetime achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors. He is a MacArthur Fellow, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, and an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has won numerous awards, including four Emmys®. In recent years, he directed The Belle of Amherst, Beckett’s Happy Days in Paris and Vasily Grossman’s The Last Letter at the Comédie-Française in Paris and Theatre for a New Audience in New York. A ballet inspired by his first film, TITICUT FOLLIES (1967), premiered at the New York University Skirball Theater in 2017.
About Zipporah Films
Zipporah Films was founded in 1971 by Frederick Wiseman as the exclusive world-wide distribution and production company of all his films. The 33 film project involved new versions of the films restored in 4K from the 16mm image negative and original sound. Digitization and color grading were carried out at DuArt and Goldcrest laboratories in New York. Digital restoration by Jane Tolmachyov, supervised by Frederick Wiseman and produced by Karen Konicek. A presentation and restoration by Zipporah Films with the participation of the Library of Congress.
For more information on Frederick Wiseman and his films visit www.zipporah.com. mTuckmanMedia has handled the theatrical releases in North America for Zipporah Films dating back to LA DANSE in 2009.
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How Visiting Professor and Visual Artist Maria Servellón Explores Creativity
Maria Servellón. Photo by Stephanie Houten
- Faculty in the News
- MassArt in the Media
- Film/Video
As a self-proclaimed “visual explorer”, Artist and Visiting Professor Maria Servellón approach her multimedia projects and independent films with “reflective curiosity, moments of magical realism, and a lot of herself.” Servellón wrote, produced, directed and acted in her poetic coming-of-age short film “Hyphen.” She also is working on a short mystery drama, “Phantasma,” and has designed projections over the past few years for plays produced by Company One and the Boston Playwrights’ Theater, such as ‘Black Superhero Magic Mama’.
At MassArt, Servellón is supporting the next generation of visual explorers as a visiting assistant professor this semester in the film and video department.
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