Matthew Birks, a senior from DeWitt, Iowa, took home the best local film award for Cycle and best music video award for his work with the band Words Like Daggers at the 2016 Muscatine Independent Film Festival.

Cycle chronicles a girl’s attempt to ride her bike as her parents argue. The movie starred his 5-year-old sister and was based on his own childhood.

Birks is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Cinematic Arts and a Certificate in Writing. He is the general manager for UI Student Video Productions.