Video Institute Premieres Two New Documentaries

BUFFALO, NY – The Canisius University Video Institute will premiere two new documentaries during the month of October. The screening for “Game Create” will take place on Tuesday, October 18. The screening for “Immersion: El Salvador” isSaturday, October 29. Both premieres begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. They are free and open to the public, with receptions to follow. 

“Game Create” is a social documentary about a new breed of gamers. Gamers represent a generation of digital natives who have matured into exceptional programmers and designers. They go ‘under the hood’ of game consoles and collaborate with other disciplines to visualize science, make music and exhibit art. “Game Create” takes viewers on a journey to rock concerts, laboratories and conferences, which evoke the intellectual and creative inspiration of gamers. 

“Game Create” was produced by Garret Weinholtz ’12, a communication studies and digital media arts major at Canisius University, and Jamie O’Neil, co-director of the Canisius University Video Institute and director of the Digital Media Arts Program.

“Immersion: El Salvador” follows a group of Canisius students as they travel to El Salvador with the college’s Institute for the Global Study of Religion (IGSOR). The film documents the students’ journey of self-awareness and enlightenment as they explore faith, religion, culture and justice in the Central American country. The documentary also highlights student interactions with the Salvadoran people, struggles of the poverty-stricken, evangelical Christianity, and the inspiring story of Arch Bishop Oscar Romero. 

“Immersion: El Salvador” was produced by T.J. Neil ’12 and Hannah Hampton ’12, both digital media arts majors, and Barbara J. Irwin, PhD, co-director of the Canisius University Video Institute and chair of the Communication Studies Department. 

Following the 30-minute documentary, Timothy Wadkins, PhD, professor of religion and theology and director of IGSOR, the student filmmakers and other travelers will answer questions from the audience. Salvadoran singer and songwriter Guillermo Cuéllar will perform in concert following the screening. 

View a trailer of the documentary below.


The “Immersion: El Salvador” event is co-sponsored by the IGSOR, the Canisius University Video Institute, and the Joseph J. Naples Conversations in Christ and Culture Lecture and Performance Series. 

The Institute for the Global Study of Religion promotes interest in the study and practice of religion within the Canisius University and wider Western New York community. Its programs and activities facilitate the academic study of religions across the world, promote the Catholic identity of Canisius University and assist in the Jesuit pastoral mission to educate men and women for the service of faith and promote of justice. 

The Canisius University Video Institute provides students with opportunities to put their classroom lessons to work on projects that enrich their learning and benefit the greater community. Students produce social documentaries and service-oriented videos – all connected by the theme of social justice – to promote discourse on ethical, social and cultural issues relevant to the world today.

Canisius University is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their commun ities and their service to humanity.