“I never thought in a million years that I would be doing documentary filmmaking and traveling around the world,” said Kyle Conti A'18, ‘20. A Hillyer College alumnus, Kyle is a cinema, and digital media and journalism major in the College of Arts and Sciences. He has travelled to Lithuania three times with a team of UHart students and faculty to film the documentary, Finding Matilda, about Matlida Olkin, a college student who along with her family was killed during the Holocaust. Kyle says he chose to tell Matilda’s story because he believes it is extremely important to share with college students. “Her story can touch many different people,” Kyle added, “but at the same time also expresses a strong connection between humans.”
With the guidance of UHart Assistant Professor of Communication Susan Cardillo, Kyle successfully entered Finding Matilda in two international film festivals. During Thanksgiving weekend, Kyle and Cardillo presented the documentary in the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s Sightlines 2019 Film Festival in Melbourne, Australia. And this spring, it will be shown at the Fiorenzo Serra Film Festival in Sassari, Italy.
“I am extremely happy to see my film being acknowledged,” he says. “These are my first film festivals, and I couldn't be prouder of how much work I spent editing the film.” Kyle says he’s excited for the opportunity to travel to Australia, and to participate in his first film festival. If Finding Matilda places in the top three films among those submitted to the Italian film festival this spring, Kyle says he’ll use the prize money to fly to Italy to attend the event.
Along with being extremely involved within the School of Communication, Kyle also works as a photographer, videographer, and the social media and marketing manager of the University’s Campus Activities Team. As he gets ready to graduate this spring, Kyle says he will never forget his time at Hillyer College, including the lifelong memories that he made with both his fellow students and professors. “Hillyer College has always supported me,” he says. “Hillyer’s amazing professors helped to push me to where I am today.”
Kyle’s advice for current Hillyer College students is to “Never stop doing what you love.” He encourages students to build connections with their professors, and that by completing hard work in Hillyer, you’ll be able to accomplish anything.
Kyle Conti, '18, '20Hillyer College has always supported me. Hillyer’s amazing professors helped to push me to where I am today.