Back to All Events

Ladies Illuminate Program #29


A collection of short films.

ALINA

Directed by Rami Kodeih

Written by Nora Mariana

As Nazis separate children from their parents in the Warsaw Ghetto, a gang of women risks everything to smuggle their friend's three-month-old baby to safety. Inspired by true events. Starring Alia Shawkat (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, SEARCH PARTY), Edin Gali (MAD MEN), Rebeca Robles (BETTER THINGS), Erika Soto (VIDA), and Mark McCullough (LOGAN LUCKY).

Generation Lockdown

Directed by Sirad Balducci

GENERATION LOCKDOWN is a narrative short film, seen through the eyes of an eleven year old boy as he tries to save his friend’s life during an active shooter attack in his school. This film is based on a short story by Caleb, a 6th grader from a middle school in Teaneck, NJ. This film examines the PTSD of repeated lockdown drills and the fallout from our country's gun epidemic.

givefilm.org

Pretty Little Warriors: Paisley

Directed by Cynthia Mallick

During a prom makeover, a makeup artist blends scripture and Kung Fu to help a bullied teen stand up for herself.

Ruth

Directed by Shannon Jarrell-Ivey

After the railroad forces her alcoholic husband to move North, Ruth DeLay­–a pregnant, destitute mother of four–desperately seeks an unregulated abortion in order for her family to survive the Great Depression. Ruth is based on a true story.

Summary: During the Great Depression, thousands of women died from unregulated abortions–their death certificates read: “Cause of Death: Sepsis, Kidney Failure” instead of “Cause of Death: Unregulated Abortion.” Ruth Delay was one of these women. Inspired by a true story and Ruth Delay’s actual letters written from 1929-1938, “Ruth” leads us through her desperate journey of: taking "Female Elixirs" made of turpentine, experiencing lead poisoning and sepsis from flushing her uterus with water from old pipes, and enduring an unregulated abortion performed by a Doctor who arrived too late.

theatreforchange.org

The Ghastly Fowl

Directed by Shruti Veeramachineni

The Ghastly Fowl confronts us with our complicity and responsibility in the destruction of the planet but also, ultimately, offers hope - hope that a new beginning is possible. A stark, beautifully animated short story that peels away the layers of the human psyche in a countdown towards the end.

The number birds 9 to 0 symbolise species of the planet, the countdown to break free of the shackles that they have created for themselves and find redemption.

https://www.theghastlyfowl.com/

The Hostess

Directed by Rosalie Alspach

After an uncomfortable sexual encounter with a customer over the phone, restaurant hostess Margot tries to unload on to her friend Charlotte. But it's the dinner rush and Charlotte couldn't be less interested.

https://www.rosaliealspach.com/

Thicker than Water We Got This

Directed by Joana Gomez

Dahlia is an 8-year-old quiet girl who lives in a toxic environment dealing with the abusive relationship between her mother, Lisa, and her boyfriend, DJ. The future of the family is uncertain after a serious altercation occurs.

The film was awarded the Dean's Student Innovation Grant.

https://www.instagram.com/thickerthanwaterfilm/

We Got This

Directed By K.Page Stuart Valdes

Marcus, an ethnically mixed, bi-curious, high school senior is two and half hours late for his curfew on prom night. His white father and African American mother have very different experiences of his lateness and very different ideas of how to hold him accountable for it. Culture and color clash in this family drama about safety, diversity, and love.

https://kpsvaldes.net

Earlier Event: September 25
Ladies Illuminate Program #28
Later Event: September 25
Ladies Illuminate #30