There is no better way to learn than through stories, believes Keuka College alumna Dr. BettyLou Koffel. And one of the best ways to experience stories is through film.
That’s the thinking behind Keuka College’s Dr. BettyLou Koffel ’74 Film Series, the latest installment of which filled the Hawkins Lounge on Tuesday, April 8.
The 16-minute film “Grrrl Justice” tells the stories of three women caught in difficult life circumstances, facing challenges including racism, poverty, sexual abuse, and transphobia. It is the type of horizon-broadening content Dr. Koffel hoped to share when she launched the film series three years ago.
“I really believe in the way that people will watch a film, hear a story that they might not hear otherwise, and see the world in a different way,” she said following the screening.
An audience of some 80 students, faculty, staff, and friends attended the screening, which capped the College's Passport to Wellness Day.
More than 80 students, faculty, staff, and guests did just that, applauding the film and engaging in a wide-ranging post-screening Q&A session with its writer and director, Shontina Vernon. The filmmaker, who traveled from Atlanta to be on campus for the event, fielded questions about the film and its characters, as well as her inspirations and motivations.
Having spent a brief period in a juvenile detention center, then going on to teach in similar facilities, Shontina grew familiar with many young women forced to navigate the harms and abuse she depicted in “Grrrl Justice,” she said.
“I heard stories of young people being trafficked or being abused at home – all these different stories,” she told the audience. “That’s part of why I wanted to make this film, because I wanted their stories to be represented. I wanted them to have a voice.”
Dr. BettyLou Koffel '74 acknowledges the applause during the most recent screening of the film series she established in 2022. She attends from her home in Oregon as often as possible. "I like coming; it's exciting to see the films in person," she said. "This is a great crowd."
The film capped the College’s Passport to Wellness Day, a day filled with programs, events, discussions, and activities designed to promote a culture of wellness on campus.
It also marked the 12th screening in the film series, which has explored topics including online radicalization, homelessness, and the experiences of disenfranchised communities.
Dr. Koffel, who has traveled from her home in Oregon to attend many of the screenings, said she intends for the series to continue to share moving and instructive stories.
“My idea is that it will continue as long as Keuka College is here,” she said. “I don’t see an end.”
