How much emotion can a filmmaker capture in just one minute?
For recent ISB graduate Gabriela “Gabi” Ferraro, the answer was enough to connect with audiences from around the world and earn two awards at the PandaVision Film Festival in Chengdu, China.
Gabi’s film won both Best One Minute Film and the Audience Choice Award, placing her work alongside films created by young filmmakers from 64 countries.
“It felt crazy in a very good way,” Gabi shared. “I felt appreciated, and I felt like my work was valued.”
Telling a Powerful Story in Just One Minute
Gabi’s award winning film explores nostalgia and the way memories can become distorted over time. Through the story of a woman remembering someone from her past, the film invites viewers into a world filled with emotion, symbolism, and mystery.
Creating that experience within only 60 seconds was one of Gabi’s greatest challenges.
She wanted the story to be experimental enough to capture the audience’s imagination, while remaining clear enough for viewers to understand its emotional heart. Rather than explaining every detail, Gabi left space for audiences to interpret the relationship and memories for themselves.
For her, this balance between mystery and meaning is what makes a one minute film so powerful.
From the ISB Classroom to an International Festival
Gabi’s filmmaking journey was shaped by opportunities to study, create, and receive meaningful feedback at ISB.
Through the IB Film course, she explored filmmaking as both an academic subject and an artistic practice. She learned about film theory while developing the practical skills needed to bring her own ideas to life.
“There is so much that goes into filmmaking,” she explained. “There is theory and there is practice, and we could do both.”
The film was originally created for IASAS Film, where it was selected to represent ISB. With guidance and feedback from her teacher, Mr. A, Gabi continued refining the film before submitting it to PandaVision.
That process taught her that a finished film can always grow stronger through reflection, collaboration, and the courage to keep improving.
Finding Connection Through Film
Winning the awards was an unforgettable achievement, but one of the most meaningful parts of Gabi’s experience was meeting other young filmmakers in Chengdu.
During the festival, she connected with students from many different cultures and discovered how their backgrounds shaped their perspectives on cinema. She also formed friendships with fellow filmmakers, including students she continues to exchange ideas and film recommendations with today.
Together, the participants watched around 100 films and celebrated the many ways young people use storytelling to express their ideas.
“It was amazing to see people putting their passion into practice and sharing their artistic perspectives,” Gabi said.
For her, the festival was more than a competition. It was a reminder that film can create connections across languages, cultures, and borders.
Creating Stories That Make People Feel
As Gabi looks toward the next chapter of her filmmaking journey, emotion remains at the center of the stories she hopes to tell.
“I think emotion is the main thing about art that must be preserved,” she shared. “We are human, and we tell human stories and communicate emotion through different mediums.”
She hopes to continue experimenting with symbolism, genres, and new approaches to storytelling while creating films that leave audiences with a powerful feeling.
Start With What You Have
Gabi’s advice for aspiring filmmakers is simple: begin.
“You probably have a phone. You have a camera. You can shoot something and try to put a message out there.”
Her own journey began nearly three years ago without a large budget or extensive equipment. What moved her forward was a willingness to experiment, make mistakes, and continue learning.
“Make weird films. Make films that might not be good, and learn from them,” she said. “It is about discovering yourself through your art.”
Gabi’s story is a celebration of curiosity, creative courage, and the power of giving an idea a chance. Sometimes, all it takes is one camera, one story, and one minute to reach an audience around the world.
Discover how ISB empowers students to explore their passions, develop their voices, and share their creativity on a global stage. Learn more about the arts at ISB and the opportunities available to our student storytellers.