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Northern Arizona University (NAU) is bringing the campus and Flagstaff community together for a powerful film festival highlighting stories from a wide range of perspectives. Organized by NAU’s five diversity commissions, the event offers a unique opportunity to explore films that reflect the experiences, identities and voices of many different groups.

The festival is the result of collaboration between the Commission on Disability Access and Design (CDAD), the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission for Indigenous People, the Commission on Ethnic Diversity and the LGBTQIA Commission. By joining forces, the commissions aim to create an event that celebrates the richness of human experiences.

“This festival is about bringing people together,� said John Schaffer, the event organizer and co-chair of CDAD. “It’s a way for all five commissions to highlight the work that we've been doing on campus, to share this space in this moment, all saying that we support a diverse culture and we support safe spaces.�

The festival will feature five short films, each selected by a commission to represent the community they support. With a background in filmmaking and film festivals, Schaffer curated a diverse lineup, ensuring a variety of styles and tones.

“I didn’t want them all to be documentaries or all narratives � I aimed for a mix,� he said. “We have two documentaries and three narrative films. One's got humor in it. One's pretty serious. One is a little experimental word poetry with some images. So they're five very different films.�

The festival offers more than just film screenings. Student groups will be in the lobby before the event, sharing information about their work and offering ways for attendees to get involved.

After the films, a panel discussion will give attendees the chance to hear directly from the commission representatives, NAU’s Vice President of Inclusive Excellence Dr. Justin Mallett as well as the president of Club ADA. Audience members will be able to ask questions and learn more about the work being done on campus to foster connection and understanding.

For Dr. Mallett, the event is a chance to showcase the power of sharing stories. “It's important for us to be able to understand that collective and collaborative voice in action is something that we should all be striving for, that we should be looking to do and we should be looking to accomplish,� he said. “This film festival is also a way to not only shine the light on some short films that emphasize the importance of this collaboration, but it's also a way to get together and highlight and talk about the work of the commissions as well.�

He hopes the event will inspire more faculty, staff and students to get involved with the commissions and build stronger connections across campus. “I’m hopeful that this event will enhance the memberships and create a forward look to more great collaborations, whether it's the community or it's the academic department, we want to build that up.�

While the festival highlights the work of NAU’s diversity commissions, Schaffer emphasizes that the event is ultimately about people � their experiences, struggles and triumphs.

“We're not trying to take a spot away from anybody," he said. "We're trying to create a bigger table with many different sized chairs � so we can all get together, discuss and build our communities.�

The NAU Film Festival invites the Flagstaff and university communities to come together for a free evening of storytelling, reflection and conversation from 7 to 9 p.m. on April 7 at Prochnow Auditorium. Learn more at