“Multi-layered and provacative, yet rooted in the fundamental truth that connection and identity matter.” – Elizabeth Carroll, Facing History and Ourselves
The Philosophical Research Society welcomes filmmaker Carolyn Shadid Lewis for an interactive screening of her film, INTERGENERATION: Animated Storytelling Between Boston Teens and Elders. Immediately following the screening will be a time for reflection and a Q&A with the filmmaker, moderated by The Philosophical Research Society’s dama Maciel Antunes. Then stay to participate in an intergenerational group stop-motion animation workshop! We are proud to host the West Coast Premiere of INTERGENERATION, in advance of its PBS broadcast later this year.
ABOUT THE FILM
What happens when intergenerational oral storytelling, art, and a pandemic meet? Social and emotional learning unfolds.
INTERGENERATION (stylized as InterGeneration) is a creative documentary that follows a group of Boston teens in an after-school program as they connect with elders in the community. Filmed during the early stages of the pandemic, InterGeneration is a glimpse into an educational process beautifully visualized through the teens’ hand-made, stop-motion animation. The film shows the power of cross-generational storytelling to build community in a time of crisis.
The teens and elders are from Boston’s diverse, international neighborhoods of color. A multicultural tapestry, the film includes stories of the Wampanoag experience in Boston and the immigrant experience from places such as Haiti, Nigeria, Portugal, and Venezuela. Through animation, the teens bring to life the elders’ stories of vibrant art scenes, of overcoming racial injustices, and of finding community in unexpected places. The teens’ animations make the elders’ memories relatable, transforming the once solitary act of remembrance into a shareable experience.
INTERGENERATION documents the power of social and emotional learning —not just in our schools, but in the wider community. The film gives agency to teens and elders as they wrestle with issues of identity and belonging. It shows that strong intergenerational relationships are essential to our individual and communal health, and models how we can create multicultural, multi-age social connections in our shifting and uncertain world.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Carolyn Shadid Lewis is an artist, filmmaker, animator, and educator whose work tells personal stories of belonging. She draws inspiration from her family’s military history and her Irish and Lebanese ancestry. Her award-winning films and installations have shown in festivals and museums internationally. Her work has gained the support of many organizations, including the Irish Arts Council, the New England Foundation for the Arts, the Boston Public Health Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts. To learn more, please visit: shadidlewis.com and intergenerationfilm.com
Tickets: Adults (18 and Up) – $10
Guests Under 18 – FREE with RSVP & At The Door
(In Person Event Only)
Please email events@prs.org or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.
