Inside RIT Shorts: Creativity, Experimentation, and Film

By Racquel Stephen,

Elissa Orlando, Veronica Volk, Julie Williams

Published August 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM EDT

Four people wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: a woman front left has a brown ponytail and is wearing glasses, a long black cardigan, grey shirt, grey pants and grey shoes; a woman front right has short blonde hair and is wearing a black and beige striped dress, black belt and beige strappy heels; a woman back left has her brown hair pulled back and is wearing a black shirt; a man back right has short black hair and is wearing a black shirt.

1 of 2 — (foreground) Christine Banna, (background) Deanna Moorehead and Vinh Nguyen with host Racquel Stephen on "Connections"

(foreground) Christine Banna, (background) Deanna Moorehead and Vinh Nguyen with host Racquel Stephen on "Connections" on Tuesday, August 6, 2025

George Yeadon / WXXI News

A black and white photo of a young man sitting and holding a guitar while dressed in a sweater and pants.

2 of 2 — Colin O'Brien

Colin O'Brien

Provided

A smiling woman with short blonde hair sits at a desk in front of a microphone wearing a gold necklace and green and white patterned dress. — Racquel Stephen guest hosting "Connections with Evan Dawson"

Short films are having a moment.

For student filmmakers, the short film is a space to experiment, take risks, and share stories that might not otherwise be told. They can capture a single emotion, a fleeting moment, or a bold new idea — and offer a glimpse into the next generation of storytellers.

We talk with students from RIT’s School of Film and Animation about their work, the changing role of short films, and what audiences can expect from the latest installment of RIT Shorts, airing August 28 on WXXI-TV.

Our guests:

Christine Banna, assistant professor in the School of Film and Animation at RIT
Deanna Moorehead, 3D artist
Vinh Nguyen, 2D/experimental animator
Colin O’Brien, composer and sound designer