About the Summer Feature

A Student-Led Filmmaking Tradition

The Summer Film Production program at Southern Methodist University gives Film & Media Arts students the opportunity to create a feature-length film or television pilot while still in school. Led and crewed by SMU students and, each production brings together emerging filmmakers to collaborate on a project from its earliest stages through post-production.

Unlike a typical class project, the Summer Feature is a full-scale production that allows students to take on professional roles, work with industry-standard equipment, and experience the collaborative demands of making a film. Students lead every major department, including directing, producing, cinematography, production design, editing, and sound.

When the Azaleas Bloomed is the current Summer Film Production project, continuing SMU’s tradition of student-led filmmaking. Pre-production began in 2025, followed by filming in the summer of 2026. The film is now in post-production, where the team is working to bring the project to completion.