Barnard has long been a haven for creatives and filmmakers alike, with unique opportunities like the Emerging Filmmaker Mentorship Program, the annual Athena Film Festival (AFF), and the backdrop of New York City as a classroom.
With an alumnae network containing award-winning and nominated actors, writers, and directors, it’s no surprise that students continue journeying to Morningside Heights in search of unparalleled industry connections, opportunities, and hands-on experiences.
The Athena Film Festival is a collaboration between the Athena Center for Leadership at Barnard College and Women and Hollywood, that advocates for gender parity in the film industry.
Each year, AFF presents a curated selection of narrative and documentary features and short films, along with engaging panels and post screening conversations featuring filmmakers, thought leaders, and other luminaries, all focused on advancing women’s leadership through storytelling. This year, many screened films were created at the hands of Barnard alumnae.
Maintenance Artist, directed by alumna Toby Perl Freilich ’80, will be screened at the festival. The documentary focuses on groundbreaking public artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles ’61, the New York City Sanitation Department’s artist-in-residence. The documentary is sponsored by Hanky Panky, founded by Lida Orzeck '68.
Cutting Through Rocks is directed by Academy Award nominated filmmakers Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni and produced by alumnae Sheila Nevins '60 and Julie Parker Benello '92. It tells the story of Sara Shahverdi, the first elected councilwoman of her remote Iranian village who fearlessly breaks patriarchal traditions by training teenage girls to ride motorcycles and stopping child marriages. Cutting Through Rocks received the Jaya Award in partnership with the Illumine Service Foundation.
Three students, Lily Mooney ’26, Asha Ahn ’27, and Sofia Trujillo ’25, will showcase their own films during AFF this March, as part of the Emerging Filmmaker Mentorship Program Student Showcase. The program provides creative project support and funding to undergraduate Barnard filmmakers as they produce their own short film.
Mooney’s The Delivery follows hopelessly romantic Donny as they attempt to court last night’s hookup with a grand gesture — during which chaos inevitably ensues.
“I wanted to capture a snapshot of queer and trans normalcy, containing all the joy and heartbreak, drama and absurdity that make up our day to day lives,” said Mooney of the film. “I am extremely grateful to the Emerging Filmmaker Mentorship Program for helping me to turn this film concept into a reality, for helping amplify my artistic voice and providing me with the tools I wouldn't have otherwise had access to in order to do so.”
For her dark comedy short I’m Sorry For Your Loss, Ahn drew from personal experiences grappling with grief in an age of predominantly online social interactions.
“Barnard's Emerging Filmmaker Mentorship Program has been such an instrumental step in my filmmaking journey and launched me on a path toward creative directing and editing,” said Ahn. “It is a rare and valuable experience to receive this level of support throughout the entire process, from the development of the script to the final stages of post-production.”
“Having volunteered at the Athena Film Festival for the past few years, it feels kind of surreal to return this time to see my film screened.”
Trujillo’s film The Secret Life of Golf Ponds focuses on the unexpected friendship between a listless teen and wayward fisherman formed at a deserted golf course pond during the pandemic.
The three films will be shown at the free Emerging Filmmaker Mentorship Program Student Showcase on March 7 at noon in Barnard Hall during the 16th annual Athena Film Festival. Register here.