Ciao amici e famiglia!

My name is Phoenix Bedolla and I have an opportunity to spend a month starting June 22 to July 20 in Bologna, Italy, studying films as well as attending Bologna's outdoor film festival, and learning about the Italian Renaissance.

Studying abroad is an incredible and unique opportunity to not only experience new cultures, but to also immerse oneself in an environment that can significantly contribute to academic, professional, and personal growth. For me, this opportunity to travel to Bologna, Italy represents the culmination of all my desires through studying film at university.

As an aspiring cinema preservationist and archivist, the chance to attend the film and preservation festival within a city that contains such rich cinematic history and unparalleled academic resources perfectly aligns with my academic and professional goals.

One of the main reasons I am starting a GoFundMe is to make this extraordinary opportunity financially feasible. The program itself is an ideal fit for my passion and future aspirations, but I must do everything I can to make the trip possible for myself and my very supportive family. The total for the trip is $10,000, and so far I have been able to save $6,000.

This trip offers high-level classes that will allow me to hone my knowledge of film history and preservation techniques while gaining hands-on experience. By attending the preservation festival, I’ll be able to learn directly from industry professionals and scholars about the latest preservation practices and challenges faced by the film preservation community.

As this is such a niche profession, I haven’t had the opportunity to gain any hands-on experience at this point, although this program would certainly catapult me directly to a place where those dreams turn into possibilities. This experience will be invaluable in advancing my expertise in this niche field, which is critical to ensuring that our cultural heritage through film is preserved for future generations.

In regard to my long-term career goals, I aspire to work in the field of film archiving and preservation, where I can help protect and maintain films, particularly those that have historical or cultural significance. The ability to restore and conserve films not only ensures that the art form survives, but also provides access to future generations of filmmakers and researchers.

By participating in this study abroad program, I will gain exposure to a level of academic rigor and hands-on learning that is essential to this field. This program aligns with my academic goals in several key ways. As a student majoring in film, I’m always looking for opportunities to expand my understanding of the medium and its preservation. The opportunity to study abroad in Italy, a country renowned for its rich cinematic history and cultural importance, will allow me to deepen my knowledge in areas that are often not covered in traditional classroom settings. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to engage in discussions with scholars and professionals who are at the forefront of the field of cinema preservation. Engaging with these professionals will allow me to foster relationships that will hopefully continue into the future and serve to maintain that cinema continues thriving.

Finally, this study abroad experience is an opportunity to give back to others by sharing the knowledge I gained while in Bologna. Learning from experts about preservation techniques will grant me the ability to return home and spread the information I’ve gained. Not only will I be able to communicate knowledge, but hopefully I’ll possess extensive practical skills as well. Perhaps there are individuals in my community that desire for old home movies to be restored, or a young filmmaker looking to make sure his art withstands the tests of time; there are a multitude of ways this trip would allow me to better serve my community.

To conclude, studying abroad in Bologna offers an invaluable opportunity to pursue my passion for cinema preservation while helping me advance my academic and career goals. I’m overjoyed to learn from experts in the field, challenge myself academically, and contribute my experiences to the broader community. Your financial gift will play a crucial role in making my dream a reality.