iACADEMY Multimedia Arts Student Earns Spot at VerticalMovie Film Festival 2026 in Rome, Italy.

iACADEMY celebrates the international recognition of Multimedia Arts and Design student Denise M. De Vera, whose film Curated has been named an official nominee at the prestigious VerticalMovie Film Festival 2026 in Rome, Italy.

The film secured a spot among the Top 40 competing projects worldwide, selected from thousands of entries submitted globally. Curated will compete in the festival’s Vertical Voices category, powered by Canon, which highlights the creative possibilities of the 9:16 vertical film format.

Founded in 2018, the VerticalMovie Film Festival is an international platform dedicated to vertical cinema. Its 2026 edition will officially showcase Curated on September 29, 2026, at the Casa del Cinema in Rome, Italy.

For iACADEMY’s School of Design and the Arts, Dean Hamill Buyco, Denise’s achievement reflects the importance of giving students opportunities to develop their creative voice and bring their work to a global audience.

“Denise’s recognition is a meaningful reminder that our students have stories worth sharing with the world. Seeing Curated reach an international platform like VerticalMovie shows what can happen when creativity, discipline, and the right opportunities come together.”

Meanwhile, iACADEMY’s Multimedia Arts and Design Chairperson Gilly Tribiana emphasized how the achievement reflects the program’s commitment to nurturing filmmakers who are prepared to explore emerging formats and industry platforms.

“Denise’s achievement is a testament to the kind of creative practice we hope to cultivate in our students. Curated demonstrates how a distinct visual language and a compelling story can make an impact, even through a nontraditional format like vertical cinema.”

Through experiences that encourage experimentation, storytelling, and industry engagement, iACADEMY continues to support students in creating work that goes beyond the classroom and reaches audiences beyond borders.

As Curated heads to Rome, Denise’s recognition marks another milestone in iACADEMY’s commitment to developing creative game changers ready to shape the future of film and visual storytelling.