Education

​

Syracuse University – Master of Fine Arts in Film                                                      Fall 2020 – Present (Graduation: May 2023)

​

Colorado State University – Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies                                              Fall 2016 – Spring 2020

Minors in Film Studies, English, and Sociology; Graduated with Honors

​

Oxford University – “Shakespeare in Oxford” Honors Study Abroad Program                                                           Summer 2019

Independent Study: Contemporary Children’s Cinema and Cultural Theory

​

 

Professional Experience

​

Teaching Assistant / Instructor of Record – Syracuse, NY                                                                                      Fall 2020 – Present

• Design and teach a 3-credit studio course covering foundational principles, techniques, history, and multiple modalities of experimental animation, as well as leading hands-on animation workshops and critiques

• Develop teaching material, facilitate group discussions, and present lessons for Survey of Film History

• Evaluate essays, discussion posts, and video projects on the subject of film history and auteur cinema

• Assist with administrative tasks related to course organization, communication, and resources

​

Summer Pre-College Filmmaking Course Co-Instructor — Syracuse, NY                                                     Summer 2021-2023

• Prepared lessons, led workshops, provided critical feedback, and offered mentorship for high school filmmakers of varying experience levels in three intensive two-week summer courses on filmmaking

​

Visiting Artist / Guest Lecturer / Workshop Leader                                                                                                  Fall 2022 – Present

• Visited classrooms at Syracuse University, DePauw University, and Cornell University to share my work with students, discuss animation, critique student work, and lead hands-on animation workshops

• Co-led an inclusive, beginner-friendly animation workshop designed as a safe space for marginalized students

​

Independent Filmmaker – Writer, Director, Editor, Art Direction, Animator, Composer                                2019 – Present

• Wrote, directed, produced, and edited two mixed-media short films about gender identity, A Spot for Frog (2022) and Thine Own Self (2021) that combine live action with experimental animation techniques

• Composed original musical scores for nine other student short films, in addition to two of my own

• Worked in various roles on student film sets as a production designer, art director, script supervisor, behind the scenes photographer, digital imaging technician, and second assistant director.

• Wrote, filmed, and edited two short essay films and an award-winning short film about anxiety (2019)

• Wrote two original feature-length motion picture screenplays, as well as multiple short film screenplays

• Served as assistant director and co-songwriter for animated children’s musical Rabbits Under the Shed​

​

​

Press and Interviews

 

• Interview in Filmmaker Magazine, "Film Can Be a Powerful Medium for Disrupting Assumptions About What Is Normal”: Evan Bode on His Student Short Film Showcase Winner Thine Own Self   (Aug 15, 2022)

​​

• Featured in Thomas Edison Film Festival's 42nd Annual Collection Announcement (Jan. 15, 2023) 

​

• Syracuse University News, VPA Film Student Wins Gotham’s Student Short Film Showcase (Dec. 8, 2021)

​​

• Article in The Daily Orange, SU graduate’s award-winning film explores gender binaries (Nov 28, 2021)

 

​

Film Festival Selections and Awards

 

A Spot for Frog (2022) — password: frog

- WINNER of the Director’s Choice Award at the 42nd Thomas Edison Film Festival, United States, 2023

- Honorable Mention for "Best Director" at Munich New Wave Film Festival, Germany, 2023

- Community Pre-Screenings at Music Box Theater in Chicago and Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, 2022

- Official Selection of:

New Jersey Film Festival, United States, 2023

Leeds Queer Film Festival, United Kingdom, 2023

Reelout Queer Film Festival, Canada, 2023

Seattle Queer Film Festival, United States, 2022

Octopus Marquee Independent Film Festival, United States, 2022

New Filmmakers Showcase at Syracuse International Film Festival, United States, 2022

 

Thine Own Self (2021)

- WINNER of Gotham Institute's Student Short Film Showcase sponsored by JetBlue & Focus Features, 2021

- Nominee for Best Experimental Short at Short Encounters International Film Festival, Greece, 2021

- Finalist for the 55th Humboldt International Film Fest, United States, 2022

-   Official Selection of:

Animafest Zagreb, Films for Children Competition, Croatia, 2022

Leeds International Film Festival, United Kingdom, 2022

Durban Film Festival's Isiphethu International Student Film Festival, South Africa 2022

15th FOR RAINBOW Festival of Cinema & Culture of Sexual/Gender Diversity, Brazil 2021

Seattle Queer Film Festival, United States, 2021

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, United States, 2021

10th QUEER-Streifen Regensburg Film Festival, Germany, 2021

Prairie Pride Film Festival, United States, 2022

MicroActs 8 Artist Film Screening, United States, 2021

Syracuse Student Showcase at Syracuse International Film Festival, United States, 2021

Through the Student Lens Film Festival, United States, 2022

Bendigo Queer Film Festival, Australia, 2022

Out & Loud: Pune International Queer Film Festival, India, 2022

 

Anxiety Art (2019)

- WINNER of the Audience Choice Award at Through the Student Lens Film Festival, United States, 2021

- WINNER of Berlin Flash Film Festival's Super Short Smartphone Contest, Germany, 2022

- Semifinalist for the Sweden Film Awards, Sweden, 2021

- Official Selection of:

TEDxCSU Film Screening, United States, 2022

Blackbird Film Festival, United States, 2022

FilmOneFest, United States, 2021