Two AU students honored at Indiana film festivals

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Anderson, Ind. — A pair of Anderson University students were recently honored by local film festivals. Aden Dekhli has won the Indiana Student Short Film Award at the 2025 Torchfire Film Festival and his film, “Turquoise,” will be screened at the festival. Cannon McClain’s film, “Snowday,” will screen at Torchfire and at the River Bend Film Festival.

“Turquoise” follows a young man struggling through grief after the death of his girlfriend. As his academic performance slips and family life begins to fall apart, he is overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts. The film builds to a moving and symbolic final moment as he sits on a bridge with a vision of his lost love.

“Snowday” is a short film that features a young boy who tries to build a snowman and learns an important lesson about friendship along the way.

The Torchfire Film Festival will be held Aug. 21 at The Historic Artcraft Theatre in Franklin, Indiana, while the River Bend Film Festival will be held Aug. 28-30 in Goshen, Indiana.

Anderson University educates students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 50 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 18 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult, graduate, and online programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized for excellence in business, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, music, nursing, psychology, and teacher education programs. Established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God, the university remains committed to its Christ-centered mission.