“Color of Threads,” a film produced by Walla Walla University’s Center for Media Ministry (CMM), continues to make waves after its strong start in the independent film circuit.

Written by WWU alumna Josie Henderson, the story follows five women who move to the Pendleton Valley in 1909 in an effort to rebuild their lives. 

London Director Awards, a film festival based in London, England, named Richard L. Ramsay, the director of “Color of Threads,” the best U.S.A. director of 2025. The short film also won the title of Best Western 2025 at the Los Angeles Short Film Awards. 

Ramsay offered valuable support not only to the film’s production but also to the students on set. Fifteen students of the WWU film program had the opportunity to assist with filming in the Walla Walla area during the summer of 2023, working alongside Ramsay to learn from his professional experience and gain industry knowledge. Read more about the students' involvement in the film here. 

Six months after its initial showing, the film won its first two awards at the Wild West Film Festival in Vacaville, California, United States. “Color of Threads” has won four awards and has been shown at 11 film festivals, including two international film festivals in Europe. 

“We’re incredibly proud of this film and the work Walla Walla University has done,” said Julio C. Muñoz, executive director of Sonscreen Films. Sonscreen provided major funding for the production, and Muñoz served as an executive producer.

As the film’s recognition continues to grow, the CMM offers “Color of Threads” to be shown at schools or churches. Groups can request screenings of the film for their classrooms or events, and Matt Webster, producer, and director of studio operations for the CMM, is available to lead discussions on filmmaking, storytelling, and the themes of the film. There is a screening fee to cover the cost of travel. 

The original article was published on the North American Division news site.