Life & Culture

Student-run short film festival highlights independent films

By Ally Dheeradhada, Staff Writer • April 23, 2026

Ithaca College’s Park Productions team hosted a red carpet style film festival at Cinemapolis on April 15, showcasing the work of 15 filmmakers from around the world. This marks the 10th annual Ithaca Short Film Festival. The festival received 105 submissions from across 13 countries. Cinemapolis showed 15 films, with 10 winning various awards. 

Q&A: Brando Benetton ’15 revisits IC amid feature directorial debut starring A-list talent

By Georgie Gassaro, Staff Writer • April 20, 2026

Writer-director Brando Benetton ’15 made it a point to reconnect with the Ithaca College community before the worldwide distribution of his indie crime thriller “The Girl in the River.” The film, which is Benetton’s feature debut, stars Emmy Award-winning actor Tiffany Haddish (“Girl’s Trip”) and Hollywood Walk of Fame-awarded Ralph Macchio (“The Karate Kid”). Benetton, who has already begun writing his second film, said he wants students to know that they can reach this level too, if they dream big. 

‘XO, Kitty’ Season 3 explores self-discovery and class consciousness

By Mei Dennison, Opinion Editor • April 16, 2026

Season 3 of Netflix’s “XO, Kitty,” released April 2, marked a triumphant third iteration of a series that should be a generational classic. The latest season serves as a reminder for audiences to lean into the fun and enjoy some semi-unserious, drama-filled entertainment while also successfully engaging in very unexpected topics like societal class structures. 

DIY Fest: New festival amplifies Ithaca’s music scene

By Parker Anne Devine, Life & Culture Editor • April 16, 2026

Ithaca DIY Fest: a brand new three-day music festival organized by Unknown Stage, Ithaca Underground, Practice At!, Fanclub Collective and the Electrozone. DIY Fest took place April 10-12 on six different stages around Ithaca: Bernie Milton Pavilion, K-House, Angry Mom Records, the Nocturnal Café, TreeHouse Studio & Lounge and a basement of a student house on Cornell University’s campus.

BOC cultivates belonging through music

By Parker Anne Devine, Life & Culture Editor • April 16, 2026

When senior Gavin Keller took over as president of Ithaca College’s Bureau of Concerts in Fall 2025, he wanted to make the BOC’s on-campus concerts meaningful and impactful to IC students. After two past semesters of hands-off leadership, Keller and the BOC continue to work toward increasing not only the number of events the BOC hosts per semester, but also the impact of each event. 

IC mainstage ‘Spring Awakening’ production says goodbye to ‘all that’s known’

By Meital Fried, Life & Culture Editor • April 16, 2026

Gavin Mayer was sitting in a Chili’s Grill & Bar when he first thought to set “Spring Awakening” in Texas. It was May 2025, soon after Mayer, associate professor and chair in the Department of Theatre and Dance Performance and associate dean of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Ithaca College, learned he would be directing the musical at IC in Spring 2026.

Ella Langley blooms with second album ‘Dandelion’

By Billy Wood, Senior Writer • April 15, 2026

Ever since the release of the single “Choosin’ Texas” in October 2025, Ella Langley has become the face of the country music genre. Langley rode that high into the release of her highly anticipated second studio album “Dandelion,” on April 10. While country music is still in the grips of bro-country, Langley brings a classic sound that is refreshing to hear in an era of overproduced, genre-bending records. 

‘Exit 8’ is a refreshing spin on video game adaptations

By Riley Young, Staff Writer • April 14, 2026

Three years after the release of the independent horror video game “The Exit 8,” film director Genki Kawamura released the Japanese adaptation “Exit 8” in the U.S. on April 10, eight months after a successful theatrical run in Japan.

‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ caters to fans, but fails to stand alone

By Alec Aleva, Contributing Writer • April 13, 2026

The Nintendo Company, over its tenure, has been mainly focused on the video game genre. However, with “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”,which was released in 2023, Nintendo has begun to dip its toes into the world of animated film. Upon the release of this first Mario movie, audiences' opinions were a mixed bag of reviews. Some loved it, some hated it.

‘The Drama’ falls short of its title

By Abbi Puckett, Staff Writer • April 9, 2026

Weddings and the days leading up to that special moment can be full of drama, but in “The Drama” which released April 3, the chaos is taken to another level. Emma Harwood (Zendaya) and Charlie Thompson (Robert Pattinson) have their love tested to the maximum in the week leading up to their forever after.

Concept to Creation: The Ithacan’s 2026 Arts Insert

April 1, 2026

How artistic passion brings color to IC's campus

Behind the Scenes: Arts Insert 2026

By James Simpson, Beatrice Mantel, and Joseph Bucher • April 1, 2026

Associate Professor Mike Costello works to help physical therapy students assist performing artists, junior Julian Bingham composes film scores with comedic elements, junior Grace Commisso styles hair in her Circles Apartment bathroom, and more.