Through A Student Lens: Catch the Class of 2024's Thesis Films at DocFest
The annual film festival will be held on December 6 and 7 in Pulitzer Hall.
Students in the 2024 Documentary Specialization program cohort spent the past year and a half immersed in the world of visual storytelling. Now, they return to Pulitzer Hall as alumni to show their skills in blending in-depth reporting with cinematic visuals will be on display at DocFest ‘24.
This year’s eight master’s project short films explore the journeys of activists, leaders and everyday residents as they fight to spark change in their communities.
Read on to learn more about each project:
Tide and Time
Directed by Naeem Amarsy and Natalie Ruiz-Pérez
As his 85th birthday approaches and climate change worsens, a veteran New York City conservationist reflects on his life and career while fighting to inspire the next generation of environmental caretakers.
METTLE
Directed by Chelsea Casabona and Surabhi Sundaram
“Mettle” follows the emotional journey of Liana Mutia, a blind Filipino-American judoka, as she trains for the second Paralympics, chasing the goal of becoming the first American woman to win gold in para-judo.
Storytime
Directed by Holly Lehren and Katie Cline
Exploring the national battle over drag-centered educational programs, “Storytime” follows two New Yorkers—a drag artist at Drag Story Hour NYC and an anti-drag activist—to uncover the personal motivations and fears behind both camps.
That's on Period
Directed by Carla Mende and Nishta Shanti
A small non-profit leader, providing around 200 women in New York City with period products, fights a battle to sustain her community efforts as period-poverty, a pervasive issue affecting thousands nationwide, continues to grow in the dark.
Windows of the Flyaway
Directed by Audrey Karnan and Maurice Oniang'o
Collecting wounded birds in the heart of New York City, a volunteer dedicates her time to rescuing birds who have collided with the glass skyscrapers of the concrete jungle in “Windows of the Flyaway.”
Absence of Me
Directed by Neha Sati and Refael Kubersky
Exiled from her home, an Iranian artist’s journey to resist her home country’s totalitarian regime through her artwork, whilst also searching for a sense of belonging is documented in “Absence of Me.”
On Our Block
Directed by Astrid Useche and Chloe Barlow
In “On Our Block” two former rivals, once embroiled in the decades-long turf war between “The 900” and “The Hoolies” in Bed-Stuy, now embark on the challenge of healing their community.
The Encampment
Directed by Kira Boden-Gologorsky and Gaia Caramazza
Two students captured the moments of the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” the Hamilton Hall occupation and the police sweeps as they unfolded at Columbia in their film “The Encampment."
The annual film festival will be held on December 6th, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, and December 7th, from 12:00 to 6:00 pm, in Pulitzer Hall. Register today.