By: Ameena Khan
On Sept. 17, the Brooklyn College (BC) Film Society held its Film Trivia, their first event of the Fall 2026 semester. In WEB 212, students and staff came together to test their knowledge of film and meet members of the BC film department.
The room quickly filled with the sounds of engaged conversations and people finding their place within the room. Attendees were given light refreshments to enjoy and were encouraged to pick from a popcorn bucket filled with crumbled yellow slips, each labeled with movie recommendations.
The BC Film Society is led by President Ismael Bustelo, a film major, and Vice President Shannon Cooper, a double major in film screenwriting and theater.
“We thought film trivia would be something really easy that a lot of people could come to, that we could put together and just get to know [The BC Film Society] first before we plan other big stuff,” Bustelo told the Vanguard.
“[Bustelo and I are] both perfectionists,” said Cooper. “We care a lot about film and getting film majors to connect with each other.”
The game was played via the popular question website, Kahoot and included various questions, such as “What was Darth Vader’s real name?”, “How many Home Alone movies are there?”, and “Which country is Godzilla set in?”
Among the many attendees reported there were a bunch of freshmen that attended as well. Two freshmen, Ginny Zoe, a political science major, and Jolie Ward, a film major, shared that this event was the first on-campus they had attended.
“This was the first event I saw on Bulldog Connection that looked interesting and wanted to join,” said Zoe.
“The event was very fun,” commented Ward. “Like, if it weren’t for the event, many people wouldn’t have met. I love movies and having this community of people that also love movies as well. It’s very, very heartwarming.”
As the competitive trivia reached an end, Sam Larson, a freshman, was declared the winner.
“The questions were pretty easy,” Larson commented. “It’s like the first event I’ve been to,” Larson told Vanguard. “I really like it, it was really fun. And I would go to the screenings we’re talking about, too,” referring to the BC Film Society’s upcoming planned film screening events.
Larson was awarded by the President and Vice President of BC Film Society a rosette badge that read, “I Know Every Movie.”
Milan Garcia, a sophomore film major and member of the BC Film Society, reflected upon the event’s conclusion and encouraged students, regardless of their major, to attend more events.
“I think people have a lot of fear of going to these events,” Garcia told the Vanguard. “I know a lot of people, especially freshmen. People who, maybe like me, have never been to a club event before or been in clubs before. Maybe it’s because there’s this thing that film majors are pretentious or something, and it’s like, nobody’s gonna judge you. We’re all there just to have fun and talk, and there’s no shame in going.”
The event concluded with the BC Film Society replaying famous clips from film history and interviews from various actors and directors. Attendees engaged in excited conversation and voted on potential movie selections for the club’s next screening.
“We were a bit over the top,” Cooper recalls, as the event came to an end. “And then, it just happens. You’re like, wait, people just mesh. You don’t have to be the one to yell at them, and say, ‘Hey, talk to each other,’ or something.”
“Movies are pop culture, movies are fun.”
Showing the unity that media and films brings, Cooper hopes for bigger community outreach.
“We hope more theater majors and also anyone that likes movies would show up and get to know film people,”
For more information about the BC Film Society, visit @bklynfilmsociety on Instagram.