WVU Parkersburg to Host Inaugural MOV Film Festival April 18-19, 2026

Parkersburg, W.Va. (March 9, 2026) — WVU Parkersburg will host the inaugural MOV Film Festival on Friday and Saturday, April 18 – 19, 2026, bringing filmmakers from around the globe and across the Mid-Ohio Valley together for a student-managed celebration of storytelling, creativity and digital media innovation.

The inspiration for the MOV Film Festival began years ago when Cody Davis, Integrated Marketing Communications Faculty member, participated in a similar event as an undergraduate student.

“Students were involved in almost every aspect of the festival from planning and managing to judging,” Davis said. “There was even a class built into the curriculum about film festivals. One of my long-time mentors has been a huge help and has taught me everything I know about them.”

Davis said it was important to bring a film festival to the Mid-Ohio Valley to showcase powerful films created in the region while giving high school and college students an opportunity to see what is possible with a degree in Digital Media Production.

In its first year, the MOV Film Festival has received more than 600 submissions from filmmakers representing every continent except Antarctica. Entries have arrived from countries including China, Russia, Iran, Australia, Ireland, India and South Africa, in addition to numerous submissions from the tri-state area. Students at Ravenswood High School are among the local filmmakers preparing submissions.

“The amount of submissions we have received has honestly been a little overwhelming,” Davis said. “I did not know that it would pick up that much interest. We’ve hit every continent besides Antarctica.”

Despite its global reach, the festival remains rooted in its community focus. Unlike many festivals, the MOV Film Festival does not charge entry fees this year and is fully student managed. WVU Parkersburg students have played a primary role in judging submissions, rating films through a structured review process that evaluates story, audio, lighting and overall quality. Students also provided written feedback and will serve as volunteers during the event.

Jacob Walton, a Digital Media Production student and festival judge, described the experience as a milestone in his academic journey.

“This is the first time ever that I have served as a judge for something this massive before, so being a judge for the Film Festival was a huge milestone in my time as a student,” Walton said. “Reviewing films from other continents was something else that I have never considered doing before. The stories from foreign lands are different because of the cultures they hail from.”

Walton added that the experience strengthened his decision-making skills and deepened his appreciation for storytelling techniques.

“What stood out to me is the quality of most of the films that have been submitted, and there are many different methods displayed to tell a story,” he said. “I absolutely agree with students having hands-on roles on an event this massive. It improves their confidence and experience so they can excel in future projects.”

The animation category has emerged as a standout among submissions, highlighting the advanced digital tools available to modern creators. One notable entry, a short stop-motion animation from Iran titled The Dog, was crafted entirely from black sand, demonstrating the global diversity of technique and artistic expression represented in the festival.

The MOV Film Festival directly reflects WVU Parkersburg’s mission to provide accessible, life-changing educational opportunities in a safe and supportive environment. By hosting an international event on campus, the college offers students résumé-building experience without requiring travel to major metropolitan markets.

“Our students that create something for this festival or take part in the judging have something to add to their résumé that employers will look highly on,” Davis said. “They don’t have to go to some major city or another state to take part in this. It’s right here, on their campus.”

Davis hopes the festival will inspire both current and prospective students long after the final screening.

“I hope that if a student comes to this festival and never realized they could make all of these incredible pieces of work with a degree from WVU Parkersburg, that they decide to enroll,” Davis said. “I would love to have them on board with us.”

For more information about the MOV Film Festival or WVU Parkersburg’s Digital Media Production program, visit www.wvup.edu