Interning at the Cannes Film Festival was not on my radar 6 months ago. It wasn't until I felt an incredibly compelling and exhilarating urge to do something unpredictable with my curriculum that I committed to IIACI. I deliberated this decision for weeks and finally decided it was in my best interest to emancipate myself from the constraints of my mind and to engage in the limitless expectations of my heart and soul. Being passionate about my education is essential to me, and my academic career has been rejuvenated as a result to this jolt of spontaneity. I experienced an accelerated working situation within a field I had never considered before which was both exciting and terrifying. The adrenaline of my ambition and curiosity fueled my fire as a diligent student and intern.

Where to begin? For me, Cannes and the IIACI experience was quite possibly life changing. I was quickly thrown into a world of the fast paced and exciting film industry, a world I had little to no exposure to. I was suddenly surrounded by producers, writers, directors, agents, and actors who were just as happy and excited to meet me as I was them. I attended movie premieres viewing new and exciting work from around the world, as well as gained great experience working at the American Pavilion with 175 interns from all over the country. I felt, as an IIACI Intern, I definitely had the upper hand. I entered Cannes with a built in support group of my fellow IIACI Interns, a group I am proud to have worked along side and excited to remain in close contact with in the future years. I also felt well prepared for the exciting and at some points overwhelming task ahead of me as an intern with the help of Dr. Dill. She helped mentor me prior to my departure as well as helped me set goals for what I planned to accomplish while at the Festival. After 15 days in Cannes, I walked away satisfied with my hard work and accomplishments while at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival. I am truly thankful to Dr. Dill and my fellow IIACI Interns for all of their support throughout the entire process!

Cannes was absolutely incredible. While merely attending the festival is a feat and honor in itself, being able to be part of the process of running the American Pavilion's portion of it was a double blessing. Through my IIACI Cannes experience, I was able to network with such entities as Louisiana Ent. and Film Jefferson, Fransisco Productions, Creative Coalition, and Sag Indie, and I made a number of acquaintances, friends, and music related connections. I also had the pleasure of meeting such individuals as producer Lynette Howell and Director Stephen Frears and attending panel discussions involving the likes of Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Doug Lyman, James Franco, and Ellen Barkin. It was really an experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life, and I am so thankful to you, Dr. Dill for advising and allowing me to attend this!!!

The Cannes experience most definitely opened up an entire level of the filming industry I had never realized was so in-depth and extensive. Working under Dr. Dill allowed me to not only appreciate the aesthetic and technical side of film, but also find relevance within the business element. The IIACI internship guided me through the Cannes Film Festival breaking down the mechanics of how movies are critiqued and sold. It also opened my eyes to the sheer amount of movies being made on a perpetual basis many mainstream audiences are not able to enjoy. Along with this, the mandatory work involved with and after the festival helped me to put my entire trip into perspective. It is an experience I will never forget. If you are interested in enjoying the experience or looking at my work be sure to check out: www.quethelights.com vimeo.com/xay Youtube Channel-Xay90

My experience in Cannes was unforgettable! The chance to see so many films informed my perspective on American vs. international cinema -- something that would not have been possible without attending the festival. I also had an amazing opportunity to photograph panels, events, and press conferences held at the American Pavilion, and came away with an amazing portfolio of work that includes photos of Matt Lauer, James Franco, Michelle Williams, and Ryan Gosling! Being able to reflect on all of this in my academic paper for IIACI really enhanced the whole experience. Thanks for the incredible opportunity!