Official Selection, CSWE 2015 Virtual Film Festival

The following films, which are listed below in alphabetical order by title, have been selected for the CSWE 2015 Virtual Film Festival, scheduled to open mid-April and run until September 14.  

Want to see the films and vote for the Virtual Ovation Award (awardee will receive a $500 prize)? Here's how. 


Black and Shiny Things (Thomas J. Schade, NY Film Academy). A film about an individual's struggle with schizophrenia and its effects on a family, challenging the bond between two brothers.

The Colors of Stetson (Alexandrina André, Florida State U—made while attending Stetson U). From the syllabus to the representation of race in administration, The Colors of Stetson gives light to the undergraduates' experience with race and diversity in academia. 

Forgiven (John Lyden, College of St. Rose). A portrait of an American soldier, scarred by memories of violence and driven by guilt to come to terms with his experience. Read the story behind the making of the film.

Ililirstait (Cory Gordon, U Alaska Anchorage). Alaska Natives have called Alaska their home for thousands of years. However, in the last several years western colonization has led to a dramatic upheaval of culture and loss of power. Ililirstait tells the story of a movement of indigenous social workers who are working to restore their culture and empower their people

Life After Iraq (Diana Guerrero, U Maryland–Shady Grove). The film tells the journey of Marine veteran, author, and professor Dario DiBattista and what he experienced before, during, and after his deployment to the Middle East during the War on Terror. Read the story behind the making of the film.

Misunderstood: The Voice Behind the Cardboard (Glee L. Dunbar, Ali M. Kiser, Ashley N. Tucker, and Miriam M. Hill, East Carolina U). Created by MSW students in collaboration with panhandlers in North Carolina, this film portrays the stories and lives of panhandlers and the public's perception of these individuals. 

Stage Presence (Hannah Merritt and Flannery Wasson, U Arkansas). The film follows two young performers as they work against gender stereotypes and find their individual voices. Moises is bi-gender and has decided to try drag shows to perform as Valerie. Whitney, one of few female stand-up comics in the area, works to move past stereotypical female jokes.
Read the story behind the making of the film.

Stepping Toward the Lion: Finding My Story (John Lyden, College of St. Rose). An intimate and revealing look at the experience of an African American teenager, post–9/11, as he overcomes prejudice and bullying to find his voice as a versatile storyteller. Read the story behind the making of the film.

Women in the Law (Amy Kasparian, Hannah Alberstadt, and Michael L'Homme, Suffolk U). The short documentaries "Thinking in Gender Terms of the Law Firm" and "Women in the Law" reflect on what it means to be a woman in the legal profession. Read the story behind the making of the film.