Perpich News

Tilo Rethmeier (Visual Arts 2025) Earns Top Award at 2025 EDU Film Festival, Studio Arts Student Work Honored

May 7, 2025

Work by Visual Arts and Media Arts students was selected and screened as part of the 2025 EDU Film Festival on Friday, May 2, 2025. Several Perpich submissions were selected as finalists with some receiving Best in Fest awards! The students had work in the show, met other filmmakers from around the state, and had a chance to connect with professionals regarding other opportunities in the industry.

Visual Arts and Media Arts students at the 2025 EDU Film Festival on Friday, May 2, 2025

The top prize of the event, Best in the Fest, went to Tilo Rethmeier (Visual Arts 2025) for his animation piece, “Squeak My Life”!

“I really didn’t know what to expect coming into the film fest, but earning an award and seeing people engaged with my piece helped me realize how others connected to my story, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Rethmeier.

In Tilo’s artist statement, he explains how the animation is based on his experience coming to art school. “I used to relish being known as that weird rat guy, but it hurt when I transferred and realized that even here I just can’t seem to find space for myself. Nothing makes me feel alone quite like sitting by myself at lunch, surrounded by people I have so much in common with.”

Tilo Rethmeier (Visual Arts 2025) earned the top prize of the event, Best in the Fest, for his animation piece, “Squeak My Life”

Tilo was inspired by other videos of limited animation and intentionally made the animation messy to align with his theme of being a screw-up. “Smooth lines and realistic movements are impressive, but recently I’ve been resisting the urge to make ’clean’ art in favor of being authentic,” he said. “There will always be thousands of people who can make art cleaner or more realistic than mine, but there’s only one Tilo Danger to express himself.”

Tilo Rethmeier is from Woodbury, MN and is the child of Ben and Debbie Rethmeier. He previously attended East Ridge High School in Woodbury, MN.

Cameron Browne, Visual Arts Instructor, had several animation students involved in the festival. “It’s so rewarding to hear students exclaim ‘I should make a movie!’ at a film festival,” said Cameron. “EDU is a great experience to connect students with the ‘how and why’ of filmmaking and their own stories they want to tell. We were very excited for Tilo, who received Best in Show at the festival for his capstone animation, ‘Squeak My Life!’. Tilo’s animation is a great reason why the medium helps us relate deeply to what’s happening inside ourselves as well as what is around us.”

Congratulations to the Perpich students who received Best in Fest recognition!

Best Experimental:

  • “Northbound” by Leon Cabot (Media Arts 2026)
  • “Beside Me” by Thomas Thro (Media Arts 2025)

Best Animation:

  • “Werewolf Run” by Julia Pauly (Visual Arts 2025)
  • “Squeak My Life” by Tilo Rethmeier (Visual Arts 2025)

Best Micro-Film:

  • “Werewolf Run” by Julia Pauly (Visual Arts 2025) *WINNER*

Best Reflective Storytelling:

  • “Memories” by Jasper Vinge Hanson (Media Arts 2025) *WINNER*
  • “Northbound” by Leon Cabot (Media Arts 2026)

Best Music Video:

  • “Where Did Johnny Go” by Milo Crane (Media Arts 2026) *WINNER*
  • “end game (AVEY)” by Jamie Davis (Visual Arts 2026)

Best in the Fest:

  • “Squeak My Life” by Tilo Rethmeier (Visual Arts 2025) *WINNER*

Collaborative Animation Showcase:

  • “Time is a Circle” – Perpich Animation *WINNER*

See the nominees and winners for 2025 EDU Film Festival here.

EDU Film Festival is a student-centered celebration of high school filmmakers. With events in Minneapolis and across Minnesota, under it’s new parent organization, Future Film & Sound, EDUFF creates exceptional spaces for young people to grow their curiosity in film production and sound for film. This is their way of helping young people feel confident and connected, and ensuring educators feel excited and supported.

Each year, students from across the globe submit their original film projects for the chance to be screened at the festival. Between 60 and 120 short films are selected – ranging from documentaries and dramas to comedies, animations, and deeply personal stories. All films are made by young people, and all are presented in a theater setting with friends, teachers, and a live audience.

The EDU Film Festival is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.