A team of School of Communications students oversaw the Broadcast Education Association’s Best of Festival Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas, managing all aspects of the live April 19 event. The experience paired high-level production work with the opportunity to meet renowned cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins.
Elon University students stepped into the spotlight in Las Vegas – not on stage, but behind it – producing the Broadcast Education Association’s Best of Festival Awards Ceremony for a second consecutive year. In a trip defined by high-level production experience, one quieter moment stood out: a brief conversation with acclaimed cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins that underscored just how close these students were to the industry they hope to enter.
Held as part of BEA’s annual convention, the mid-April ceremony recognizes top student and faculty work in film, journalism and multimedia storytelling programs from colleges and universities across the country. Tasked with producing the awards ceremony, eight Elon students managed all aspects of this year’s live show – from scripting and editing to lighting, audio and video execution.
Elon’s presence at the convention extended beyond production. Students and faculty captured 13 awards in the 2026 BEA Festival of Media Arts, which featured more than 2,250 entries from over 300 colleges and universities. The honors included 10 student awards and three faculty and staff awards across categories such as audio, film and video, documentary, news and interactive multimedia.
Led by Bryan Baker, director of technology, operations and multimedia projects, the Elon team created a series of video packages highlighting award winners and developed a detailed run of show that guided the evening from start to finish.
“From early planning through execution in Las Vegas, the students brought a high level of professionalism and creativity to an event that celebrates some of the best work in the country,” Baker said. “This experience really showcased what our students are capable of.”
Amid the demands of producing a live show, students said the experience helped strengthen relationships and create lasting memories.
“I’ve known almost everyone on the trip for at least two or three years – two of them were actually students in an Elon 1010 class that I was a peer educator for,” said Sylvie Cullen ’26, a double major in cinema and television arts and communication design. “I really enjoyed seeing everyone excel in their areas of expertise, especially those whose work I haven’t seen in some time.”
Cullen served as both a photographer and liaison between the show’s hosts and audio team, while also helping edit multiple video packages.
In addition to Cullen, the Elon production team included Charlotte Pfabe ’27, Anjolina Fantaroni ’26, Colin Dorroh ’27, Philip Doherty ’26, Liam Dupas ’26, Julien Dupas ’26 and Kira Hancuff ’28. Pfabe and Fantaroni emceed the ceremony.
While the production itself was a major professional milestone, students said one of the most memorable moments occurred away from the stage — their conversation with Deakins.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential cinematographers of his generation, Deakins is known for his work on films such as “1917,” “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “The Big Lebowski,” earning multiple Academy Awards and nominations over a decades-long career.
For students immersed in film and media production, the opportunity to meet Deakins and his wife, James Ellis Deakins, carried significant meaning. In a brief, informal conversation lasting about 10 minutes, the group spoke with Deakins about his work and experiences in the industry.
“Meeting him honestly was surreal,” said Liam Dupas ’26, a cinema and television arts major. “I enjoyed how down-to-earth he seemed; he didn’t have an ego at all. I appreciated his humility and genuineness. He’s also pretty funny, too.”
Cullen echoed that sentiment, noting the personal nature of the interaction.
“Roger and James Deakins were extremely kind and such a lovely couple to be around,” she said. “I appreciated how willing they were to talk with us about our trip and their experiences. Roger also spoke about the intersection of documentary and narrative filmmaking, which is something that has always drawn me in while studying at Elon.”
