“Error 404: Books Not Found,” the powerful short documentary produced by five students from Vermont State University’s Castleton campus, is making waves locally and now internationally. 

The documentary, which documents the effort to digitize the university’s library, has been sent out to numerous film festivals around the country and just got its first acceptance. 

Maryland International Film Festival selected “Error 404” as a contestant under the short documentary category. Not only will it be shown at the film festival, but more locally, it will soon be broadcast on Vermont Public on Mar. 20, 2025.

The documentary, which grew out of a class project in Professor Sam Davis Boyds’s Documentary and Filmmaking class, sheds light on the consequences that the closure could have on the Castleton community. 

The film looks at the bigger picture for higher education and what can happen when an institution isn’t listening to its community, not just regarding the closing of the library. It contains numerous interviews with students and faculty, as well as library officials. The students behind the film, including Lily Dolton, Jacob Gonzalez, Will Smith, Jacob Ruben, and Madeleine Lindgren, said they are both proud and surprised by the recognition the project has received.

“It’s honestly kind of surreal. I didn’t anticipate that it would get any kind of traction or recognition outside of Castleton. I’m so excited and so happy that it is happening. It’s not because I didn’t believe in it, but I guess I just never really expected that it would happen,” Doton said after learning that the film would be aired on Vermont Public and was accepted into the Maryland International Film Festival.

Gonzalez was also surprised by the recognition. 

“I could not believe it was real. To finally have your work recognized in something as significant as that… it’s just incredible,” Gonzo said. “We spent so many hours creating this film, and to see it get recognized like this is just unreal.”

Smith, now in graduate school, said he was excited by the news. 

“I was shocked. I know it’s fantastic, but it’s still one of those things where it seems like you’ve been chosen,” Smith explained. “It feels amazing, but I was completely startled. But I adore it, and I’m glad we were all shocked. It’s great.”

Smith was more surprised by the entry into the film Festival, stating that while Vermont Public seemed like a more logical outcome, getting into an out-of-state festival was unexpected. 

“I was very surprised by the International Film Festival. I knew the film was good, but it transported to Maryland. I thought, Wow, that’s pretty excellent.’ Vermont Public was a little more reasonable, but the Maryland Film Fest was somewhat unexpected,” Smith said. “I assumed we’d get a local traction because, you know, local kids, but the fact that a festival we don’t have a connection with wanted us is crazy.”

The documentary starting a classroom assignment to now getting international recognition emphasizes the students’ drive to keep it going. Davis Boyd, the class’s advisor throughout the filmmaking process, is extremely proud of her student’s work.

“I’m very excited for everyone,” Davis Boyd remarked. “This is a very big accomplishment for the five of students, and for everyone who worked on the film.”

Boyd also discussed how Vermont Public contacted her about airing the film following a showing at Johnson State College. The documentary will air on Vermont Public at 8 p.m. on March 20 and will be accessible for internet streaming for six months afterward.

The film’s admission into the Maryland International Film Festival marks one of many milestones in its growth. 

“This is our first film festival acceptance. I’m happy that the film will have a life outside of Vermont. This film contains broader themes that resonate beyond our community,” she said.

Dolton and Gonzalez found the documentary-making process rewarding but at times demanding. They highlighted how much effort it took to bring their idea to life. With hours of filming and editing to conducting interviews with community members.

“I’d absolutely do it again,” Doton stated. “It was so difficult and so time-consuming, but it was also so fun and fulfilling.”

Smith, who stated that he first expected the project to end in only a single screening, was surprised at how far it has progressed. “No, I thought we were gonna have the one screening, and our friends and family were gonna show up, and we were gonna get a ‘great job, kids,’ and that was gonna be the end of it,” Smith said. “The fact that we had numerous screenings at Castleton, that it’s still alive and well, and that we’re all coming together and doing things with it is amazing. It was such an important part of me during my time at Castleton that I don’t want it to end. I know the train is going to stop at the station eventually, but I’m hoping we can take it a bit further.”

The film boasts crucial discussions about the future of education and public resources. Gonzalez remembers how it drew people together to discuss the concerns raised in the documentary. 

“The fact that our film had that much of an impact to get people fired up about this topic is exactly what we wanted,” he said.