Robert Hitchcock
Chapman University students Ruthie Weeks (’25), Madee Sabatier (’24), Rebecca Greenwood (’25), and Zohar Varadi (’24) from Chapman’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, have earned international recognition with a nomination for the 2025 BAFTA Student Award in the Documentary category. Their film, Where We Once Roamed, was one of three finalists in the category and the only U.S. entry in the category.
While the film did not ultimately take home the top prize, its placement among the final three highlights the students’ exceptional storytelling and creative achievement on a global stage.
Directed by Weeks, produced by Sabatier, edited by Greenwood, and with cinematography by Varadi, Where We Once Roamed explores the Blackfeet Nation’s efforts to restore free-roaming bison to their ancestral lands. Told through the voices of Blackfeet Nation members Ethan Running Crane, Ervin Carlson Jr. and Shane Little Bear, the documentary highlights not only a monumental conservation initiative but also the deep cultural and spiritual significance of bison to the Blackfeet people. Filmed in Browning, Montana, and at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park in Alberta, Canada, on the lands of the Siksika Nation, part of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the documentary uses compelling storytelling and striking visuals to offer a powerful portrait of ecological restoration and cultural revival.
The documentary was created as part of Community Voices, a social-issue documentary program that has been housed within Dodge College for more than 15 years and funded by the Dhont Family Foundation. Community Voices allows students to tell important stories about pressing global issues while learning the craft of documentary filmmaking. More than 400 students have completed the program, producing films that have screened worldwide and sparked vital dialogue.
“This is a tremendous honor, and I’m so happy for Ruthie, Madee, Rebecca, and Zohar,” said Stephen Galloway, dean of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. “Their work exemplifies the kind of meaningful storytelling we encourage at Dodge, where students are empowered to collaborate deeply and create with purpose.”
This nomination further highlights the broader excellence of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, ranked 4th in the nation among film schools. Known for its state-of-the-art facilities, hands-on learning, and industry-experienced faculty, Dodge College offers top-tier programs in film production, screenwriting, animation, broadcast journalism, and more. The college provides a rigorous, collaborative, and creatively rich environment where students like Weeks and Sabatier are encouraged to push boundaries and develop their unique voices as storytellers.
The BAFTA Student Awards, hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, celebrate emerging talent in Live Action, Animation, Documentary, Games, and Immersive Content. With more than 800 film schools invited to participate annually, the awards represent one of the most competitive and respected international honors for student filmmakers.
Weeks and Sabatier’s achievement underscores Dodge College’s commitment to preparing students to lead and innovate in the entertainment industry, and to use the power of film to make a difference.
Click here to see the trailer for Where We Once Roamed.
