Villanova Student Documentary, “Seeds We Bury,” Named a Finalist for Student Academy Award
VILLANOVA, Pa. (July 23, 2026) — A film produced by a team of Villanova University undergraduates from the Department of Communication’s Social Justice Documentary program has officially been named a finalist in the 53rd Annual Student Academy Awards’ Documentary Category. Their entry, “Seeds We Bury,” is the fifth Villanova project to receive this distinction, with the most recent, “Sankofa,” winning gold in the Documentary/Domestic Film Schools Category in 2019.
A 33-minute motion picture created by the student-led company Pinctada Pearl Productions, “Seeds We Bury” is a story of indigeneity told through a tapestry of voices from the Ati and Shinnecock peoples. Beginning with the leader of the Ati tribe in the Philippines, Delsa Justo, and transitioning to voices from the Shinnecock Nation in the United States, the film uses generational storytelling to depict the challenges indigenous populations experience around the world.
“My students have created a film that invites reflection, sparks meaningful conversations and reminds us that the seeds planted by our ancestors continue to grow into the strong foundations of our communities and identities,” said Hezekiah L. Lewis III, MFA, associate professor of Communication and faculty coordinator of the Social Justice Documentary program. “I’m so proud of this talented group and grateful to everyone who watches, shares and supports their work.”
“The parallel story shows how two nations that are far apart geographically share a history and a present that are so similar,” added Autumn Coard ’26 CLAS, who facilitated connections and interviews with members of the Shinnecock community. “The Pinctada Pearl Productions team were able to explain that through film in a beautiful way.”
With their project’s selection as a Student Academy Awards finalist, the “Seeds We Bury” filmmakers join elite company. Past winners have gone on to receive 70 Oscar nominations and have won or shared 15 awards. Among their number are Robert Zemeckis, Patricia Riggen and Spike Lee.
As part of the Social Justice Documentary program, Villanova students—like the team behind “Seeds We Bury”—learn about film and then create documentaries that allow them to become advocates for important societal issues.
“Being named a Student Academy Award finalist is a surreal feeling,” said Olivia Hansen ’26 VSB, who co-directed “Seeds We Bury” alongside Soledad Robins ’26 CLAS. “We owe a big thank you to The Academy for this life-changing opportunity, which allows the story of the Ati and the Shinnecock to be told around the world.”
“What means the most to me is that this recognition amplifies the stories of the people who trusted us,” added Glory Wells ’25 CLAS, who worked on the documentary’s sound team. “It’s not just our film that’s being seen; it’s their lives, their experiences and their voices reaching more people.”
In addition to being nominated for a Student Academy Award, “Seeds We Bury” was longlisted for the BAFTA Student Awards and selected to the Ritu Rangam Film Festival, CinemaKing International Film Festival and InterCultural Voices Film Festival, among other showcases, noted Noel B. Doherty ’25 CLAS, the marketing leader and head of social media for Pinctada Pearl Productions.
Voting for the Student Academy Awards is currently underway, with medalists announced on Monday, September 14. A livestream of the ceremony—held at the Toronto International Film Festival inside TIFF Lightbox—will be available on the Student Academy Awards’ website the day of the event.
About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.