Bringing together creativity, history, and storytelling, Brigham Young University hosted its 7th annual BYU Public Domain Film Festival. This event celebrated media from the 1930s by challenging students enrolled in the three flagship campuses to create an original short film.
The catch?
With a mere two weeks, the students were required to incorporate works from books, films, and/or music that recently entered the public domain. For one team from BYU–Hawaii, the challenge became an opportunity to create something remarkable.
Taking home the award for Best Picture were director and screenwriter Ysabella Junio, producer and co-leader Cian Perez, leading actress and score director Thummim Dollete, leading actor Dallin Christian Bacudo, and actress Eva Shay–– collectively known as their production team, Phil Creates.
The Process
The production window for the event was fourteen days, and with that limit came priorities.
“It wasn't a question of, ‘Is it possible?’” Junio, a senior majoring in business management, explained. “It was more of, ‘What do we need to do to achieve this?’”
Having participated in the festival for three years, Junio understood that preparation would be key. Even before the official launch, she spent hours researching public-domain films and literary works, while Dollete explored musical compositions for the project.
Although the team entered the competition without a finalized storyline, their first production meeting became a turning point. With input from Perez, they refined their vision, incorporated a plot twist, and centered on the temple as a meaningful and guiding element.
“We were telling a story with divine and eternal importance–” Junio detailed, “–so we needed to treat it with as much sacredness as possible.”
Junio quickly moved into writing the screenplay, describing the experience as being completely “in the zone.” Within five days, she had created a detailed master plan that included shot lists, schedules, and visual references to guide the team through production. However, even with preparation, the team faced challenges. Filming conditions were far from ideal: rain, wind, and limited daylight required physical and time adjustments both on set and in post-production.
Junio detailed how on their final day of shooting, heavy rain continued as they prepared to film a key scene. The team paused for a moment of prayer: not for the rain to stop, but for the ability to complete their work.
“It didn’t stop raining,” Junio recalled, “but it was manageable enough that we were able to finish everything.”
And despite the trials, Perez reflected that the most meaningful part of the experience was the collaboration itself.
“Dallin majors in music, Eva’s a sophomore in biology with Thummim––but she’s a senior. And, of course, Ysabelle and I major in business management; we were all from different departments and years, but we had to figure things out together and make do with what we had,” said Perez. “Gratefully, it came together and paid off in the end.”
Their Purpose
The film’s nominations for Best Musical Score and Best Director earned the team the opportunity to travel to BYU in Provo, Utah. After the results, the team was named runner-up for Best Musical Score and the winner of Best Picture, recognizing the culmination of two intense weeks of work, sacrifice, and creative risk.
However, for Phil Creates, the recognition was never their sole purpose.
From the beginning, the team set out to create something that would endure beyond the festival. Rather than focusing solely on the competition, they aimed to tell a story that would continue to resonate, particularly within a spiritual context.
“We always wanted to do something that connects with the Church,” Perez said, “not just a short film for the competition, but something that could continue to be used and thought about.”
That intention is reflected in the heart of the film. Drawing from her experiences with family history work, Junio shaped the story around themes of remembrance, connection, and eternal relationships.
“This film was created with my ancestors in mind,” Junio revealed. “It’s a reminder that no loved ones get left behind.”
Together, their technical, narrative, personal, and collaborative perspectives formed a film that carried meaning both on and off the screen.
Paving the Way
With the recognition and reward, the future for the students is bright. However, even more exciting is the opportunity extended to the rest of the students at BYU–Hawaii. The award to Phil Creates is not only an exciting achievement but also evidence of the growing impact that BYU–Hawaii’s student filmmakers can have.
“We want to thank everyone and BYU–Hawaii, which made it possible,” Perez expressed. “This couldn’t have happened without the opportunities extended to students like me.”
As students continue to take on opportunities like the BYU Public Domain Film Festival, Phil Creates' achievements serve as a reminder that storytelling is not limited by time, resources, or experience. Instead, it is shaped by vision, purpose, and the willingness to create something that matters.
“We want to thank everyone and BYU–Hawaii, which made it possible,” Perez expressed. “This couldn’t have happened without the opportunities extended to students like me.”
As students continue to take on opportunities like the BYU Public Domain Film Festival, Phil Creates' achievements serve as a reminder that storytelling is not limited by time, resources, or experience. Instead, it is shaped by vision, purpose, and the willingness to create something that matters.