Career Inspiration in Cannes

In May, two Lewis & Clark students earned the opportunity to “walk the red carpet” at the Cannes International Film Festival. Sofia Alicastro CAS ’14 and Taylor Anne Finch BA ’13 were two of only 25 students selected nationwide for business internships at the festival’s American Pavilion.

“As an aspiring filmmaker, this internship exposed me to a variety of intriguing films and allowed me to immerse myself in the Cannes culture, which I absolutely love,” Alicastro says. “I was able to network and engage with individuals interested in different facets of the film industry.”

Both students assisted with business operations—Alicastro for Lakeshore Entertainment and Finch for The Asylum Productions. They also gained access to industry professionals, viewed films that were unavailable in the United States, and sat in on various panel discussions.

Although Lewis & Clark does not offer a major in film or business, Alicastro feels her liberal arts coursework—especially her classes in rhetoric and media studies—prepared her well for Cannes. “My experience in Cannes was a stepping-stone in my career,” Alicastro says. “I was exposed to a variety of potential paths I can take to become a successful filmmaker.”

—by Zibby Pillote CAS ’14