2025 Thesis Films
AYZOH
Directors: Jack Balick and William Teets
AYZOH follows Luke Tewalt, a prodigy distance runner adopted from Ethiopia and raised in America, and his struggle to chase Olympic dreams while searching for self identity.
Back on Track
Director: Pete Tcak
After a random shooting left him paralyzed at 18, Chris Rivera rediscovered life through his love of basketball. Twenty years later, he leads the Triad Trackers alongside his teammates, Bri and “T.” Back on Track follows the team’s pursuit of a spot in the Wheelchair Basketball National Finals—and goes off the court to reveal the personal journeys that brought Chris, Bri, and T to the game, redefining success beyond wins and losses.
Better Bring Your Friends
Director: Louie Poore
Against the backdrop of the increasingly popular world of running clubs, Better Bring Your Friends follows two runners setting out to tackle big races in search of redemption, self-discovery, and community. With the help and support of their friends, they’ll attempt to overcome loss, adversity, and natural disasters as they reach for new levels of physical performance.
Crowning Glory
Director: Parker Beverly
What do a retired principal, semi-pro golfer, insurance agent, and founding member of Homeland Security have in common? The dream of winning a crown. Crowning Glory follows four women on their journey to be crowned Ms. Senior America 2024. But this is more than a pageant film. Beneath the sequins and stage lights, this film goes deeper, tapping into their motivations for joining the competition. Whether it’s finding joy after loss, chasing a girlhood dream, or just proving people wrong, these women are not just rewriting the narrative on aging — they’re reclaiming their purpose. Crowning Glory is a sparkling reminder that every woman deserves her time in the spotlight no matter the decade.
Dream Deliverer
Director: Meredith Hamm
Imagine sleeping on the floor every night. It’s cold, uncomfortable, and you wake up feeling groggy and unprepared for the day. This is the sad reality for millions of children in the United States of America. Thankfully a small organization in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is looking to change that. Anneliese Wall, the founder of the nonprofit organization “A Bed and A Book” delivers personalized beds and books to children who do not have one. After living through similar experiences herself, Anneliese knows how the lack of a good night of sleep can negatively impact a child’s ability to learn and flourish throughout their day.
Dream Deliverer follows Annaliese as she works with community businesses, organizations, and volunteers to support her effort to end childhood bedlessness not only in Winston-Salem, but in cities across the country.
No Straight Path
Director: Rachel Kuehn
Emilia Migliaccio was raised to be a golf prodigy, training her entire life with the goal of turning professional—but life had other plans. No Straight Path shares her journey as she chose to step away from competitive golf and pursue a career in golf broadcasting. Along the way, she and her teammates also made history, bringing home the first NCAA Championship for the Wake Forest Women’s Golf program.
Moving Forward
Directors: Matt Groce & Yuhang Zhao
Moving Forward is an observational documentary short that follows farmer and winemaker Chris Denesha of Plēb Urban Winery in Asheville, NC, as he challenges entrenched chemical farming practices and outdated perceptions of North Carolina wine. Through unfamiliar grapes grown and fermented using natural techniques, Chris strives to create an authentic “taste of place,” seeking to position Appalachia as a respected wine region. But when Hurricane Helene devastates Plēb’s production facility and tasting room, the film’s narrative shifts dramatically, grappling with themes of loss, resilience, ethical filmmaking, and the mounting impacts of climate change. Against the stunning backdrop of Western North Carolina, Moving Forward captures one man’s unyielding passion for sustainable farming and the enduring spirit to rebuild in the face of an historic natural disaster.
The Last Habitat
Directors: Kerui Zhang & Jingxuan Chen
With fewer than 20 red wolves remaining in the wild—primarily in eastern North Carolina—The Last Habitat explores how a network of scientists, wildlife facilities, government agencies, and nonprofits is collaborating to protect and grow the population and reintroduce the species to its natural environment.