This Spring’s class on Screening Stories of Sustainability, in the Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainable Futures (CJSF) department, taught by Adjunct Professor and filmmaker Elettra Fiumi, has the dual purpose of teaching FUS students how to make a video and simultaneously bring to life the Global Science Film Festival at the local Lux cinema in Lugano where professional features and shorts will be screened, as well as the students’ film, on Sunday, April 2nd (you can buy your ticket HERE). Here we share a Q&A between adjunct professor Fiumi and FUS student Aidan Farabow (‘25) who was appointed project manager for the festival.
On community engagement
Elettra: Aidan, as a student at the Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainable Futures, how important is it for you to connect with the local community in Lugano?
Aidan: Engaging with the local community is incredibly important to me. As students, we have the privilege to learn and grow in an academic setting, but it is equally important to engage with the community around us. By connecting with the community, we can learn about the issues and challenges they face and work together towards solutions. It brings us outside of our bubble and helps others see who we are - how we are learning and implementing these lessons.
Elettra: Can you tell us more about how this course will help you connect with the community?
Aidan: This course is centered around telling stories and bringing people together through film. We are organizing the Global Science Film Festival, which will give us the opportunity to engage with the community and share stories of sustainability from around the world. By creating a space for people to come together, we can have important conversations about sustainability, whether that be environmental sustainability, economic or social. Elements of each will be explored in films and in panel discussions with filmmakers, scientists, scholars, students and the public.
On the importance of film, capturing and sharing stories
Elettra: Aidan, why do you think film is an important tool for change through storytelling?
Aidan: Film has the ability to capture and convey emotions and experiences in a way that other mediums cannot. Film allows us to see and hear stories from around the world, giving voice to the unheard, and gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of others. Film has the power to inspire change and create empathy where other mediums often fail. Great storytelling creates emotion through meaning, which drives change starting from the individual, and ideally later impacts also lobbying and laws.
Elettra: How do you think the films being shown at the festival will contribute to the conversation about sustainability?
Aidan: As a student studying social justice and sustainability, all the themes of this year’s festival resonate strongly with me. The environmental activism displayed by Vandana Shiva is extremely admirable, and I hope that someday I may be able to bring about societal change in some capacity as well. In Cinema Sabaya, I admire how Orit Fouks Rotem has managed to tell such an amazing story displaying the importance of film and its ability to bring people from different identities and walks of life together over common interests - for example, film. Happy pills also manages to provide a social commentary about how in today's society, success, hard work, and achievement are ingrained in everyone's mind, and the pharmaceutical industry has used these social norms in order to chemically change people to work harder, focus more, and to be stronger. I believe that the films being shown at the festival spark dialogue and bring attention to a wide range of sustainability issues and provide insight into potential solutions. By sharing these stories, we can create awareness and inspire people to take action.
On teamwork and collaboration
Elettra: Aidan, can you tell us about some of the biggest challenges you have faced while organizing an event like the Global Science Film Festival?
Aidan: Organizing an event like this requires a great deal of teamwork, coordination and flexibility. We have an incredible team of students and faculty working together to coordinate the logistics, promote the festival, and provide support to the filmmakers. It takes a village, but I’m grateful to be working alongside such a committed team.
Elettra: What skills have you developed through this collaborative effort?
Aidan: This collaborative effort, needed both for making our short film and for organizing the festival, has been an incredible learning experience for me. I have developed a deeper appreciation for effective communication and the value of teamwork. Working towards a common goal with such a dedicated team has taught me the importance of collaboration and how it can create a meaningful impact. Overall, this experience has helped me grow as a person, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.
Elettra: What can members of the Franklin community do to support the festival if they won’t be able to attend?
Aidan: The best way to support our festival is to show up, enjoy the films, engage in the discussions and enjoy our aperitivo :) Please share info on the festival so we can reach a wider audience and ensure this festival is a success. Thank you for the support!