'The Bell Affair' named creative work of the year

Photo Credit: NUTech Ventures Creative Work of the Year: The Bell Affair
Wed, 11/16/2022 - 14:26

At NUtech Ventures' 2022 Innovator Celebration on Nov. 14, the Creative Work of the Year was awarded to “The Bell Affair,” a documentary film developed by Nebraska scholars Kwakiutl Dreher (English) and William Thomas (history) in the College of Arts and Sciences and Michael Burton of the College of Education and Human Sciences.

This award recognizes an individual or group who has developed a creative innovation, which is typically protected under copyright.

“The Bell Affair” was directed and filmed remotely, due to travel limitations of the pandemic. These challenges allowed for creative approaches to problem solving to bring the work to fruition. From virtual costume fittings to actors filming themselves, the entire cast and crew contributed uniquely to this project. The result has been the ability to tell the important story of the Bell family: how enslaved people used the court system to gain their freedom.

As the university’s technology commercialization affiliate, NUtech Ventures protects, markets and licenses the university’s intellectual property to improve quality of life and promote economic development. NUtech also promotes entrepreneurship through programming and sponsored events.

Awards were presented in five categories by members of the NUtech Ventures leadership team.

Read more about this year's Innovator Celebration.