(Photo Provided) Students evaluate submissions for the first MOV Film Festival during a class at WVU Parkersburg. The festival, scheduled for April 18-19, has received more than 600 entries from filmmakers around the world and is largely managed by students.

PARKERSBURG — The first MOV Film Festival featuring filmmakers from around the region and world will be held April 18-19 at WVU Parkersburg.

The inaugural event is managed by students and was inspired years ago when Cody Davis, a member of the integrated marketing communications faculty, participated in a similar event as an undergraduate student.

“Students were involved in almost every aspect of the festival from planning and managing to judging,” Davis said. “There was even a class built into the curriculum about film festivals. One of my long-time mentors has been a huge help and has taught me everything I know about them.”

A film festival in the Mid-Ohio Valley will showcase powerful films created in the region while giving high school and college students an opportunity to see what is possible with a degree in digital media production, Davis said.

More than 600 submissions have been received from filmmakers from every continent, except Antarctica, including from China, Russia, Iran, Australia, Ireland, India and South Africa. In addition to numerous submissions from the area, students at Ravenswood High School are among the local filmmakers preparing submissions.

(Photo Provided) Cody Davis, an integrated marketing communications faculty member, speaks with students about planning and judging for the MOV Film Festival at WVU Parkersburg. The event will bring filmmakers from across the Mid-Ohio Valley and the world globe to campus on April 18-19.

“The amount of submissions we have received has honestly been a little overwhelming,” Davis said. “I did not know that it would pick up that much interest.”

Despite its global reach, the festival remains rooted in its community focus, according to Davis. The festival did not charge entry fees this year and is managed by the students.

WVU Parkersburg students have played a primary role in judging submissions, rating films through a structured review process that evaluates story, audio, lighting and overall quality. Students also provided feedback and will serve as volunteers during the event.

“This is the first time ever that I have served as a judge for something this massive before, so being a judge for the film festival was a huge milestone in my time as a student,” Jacob Walton, a digital media production student, said. “Reviewing films from other continents was something else that I have never considered doing before. The stories from foreign lands are different because of the cultures they hail from.”

Walton said the experience strengthened his decision-making skills and deepened his appreciation for storytelling techniques.

“What stood out to me is the quality of most of the films that have been submitted, and there are many different methods displayed to tell a story,” he said. “I absolutely agree with students having hands-on roles on an event this massive. It improves their confidence and experience so they can excel in future projects.”

The animation category has emerged as a standout among submissions, highlighting the advanced digital tools available to modern creators. One notable entry, a short stop-motion animation film from Iran, “The Dog,” was made entirely from black sand, demonstrating the global diversity of technique and artistic expression represented in the festival.

The festival directly reflects WVU Parkersburg’s mission to provide accessible, life-changing educational opportunities in a safe and supportive environment, according to Davis. Hosting an international event on campus offers students a résumé-building experience without requiring travel to major metropolitan markets, he said.

“Our students that create something for this festival or take part in the judging have something to add to their résumé that employers will look highly on,” Davis said. “They don’t have to go to some major city or another state to take part in this. It’s right here, on their campus.”

Davis hopes the festival will inspire current and prospective students long after the final screening.

“I hope that if a student comes to this festival and never realized they could make all of these incredible pieces of work with a degree from WVU Parkersburg, that they decide to enroll,” Davis said. “I would love to have them on board with us.”