Screenings and screamings: Bringing visibility to the unseen at the Athena Film Festival

The Athena Film Festival invites filmmakers of short films to show their craft and discuss it in a dedicated space for filmmakers themselves and film lovers.

Art by Kathy Cao/The Barnard Bulletin

By Nura Ali

March 28, 2025

Art has the power to bring people together in unexpected ways. One such moment occurred at the Athena Film Festival’s “Shorts: Artists on Artistry” screening, which took place in Barnard Hall’s Held Auditorium on Sunday, March 9. The event featured five short films — “Searching for Augusta,” “Desync,” “Cow Heavy and Floral,” “Instant,” and “Outcry: Alchemist of Rage ” — that were played back-to-back, each exploring different aspects of creativity and artistic expression. 

The films ranged from indie narratives to socially engaged documentaries. “Desync”, “Cow Heavy and Floral,”  and “Instant” followed fictional characters on deeply personal life journeys. In “Desync,” for instance, Ana, a young Filipina filmmaker, recreates a fight she once had with her mother –– a clash brought on by mutual refusals to communicate. Meanwhile, “Searching For Augusta” and “Outcry” took a documentary approach, centering on real-world narratives and pressing social issues.

Following the screening, a moderated Q&A session gave filmmakers a chance to connect with the audience and discuss their creative processes. The conversation began with a thought-provoking question from an audience member about leadership and ownership in the artistic work of film.

Whitney Bradshaw, the director of “Outcry,” spoke about the transformative power of being an artist: “The act of making art itself is healing and liberating. I wanted to create a space that brought as many people into that feeling as possible.” Bradshaw’s documentary captures a powerful project in which she gathers women into a room to scream, their raw emotions recorded and later displayed in gallery portraits. More than just an artistic endeavor, this project serves as a space for catharsis and empowerment.

Building on Bradwhaw’s insights, “Cow Heavy and Floral” filmmaker Richa Rudola discussed the intersection of healing and artistry in her work. Her short film explores the experience of a postpartum writer struggling to meet a deadline while grappling with an identity crisis — an experience drawn from Rudola’s own experience with postpartum depression. “Art is an expression of healing and self-realization,” she reflected. “There’s a courage of conviction that can emerge when you’re no longer reliant on external validation.”

As the discussion shifted its focus to the creative process, Roberta Ranged shared her experience as the the lead actor in “Instant.” The film stood out for its striking visuals and unconventional narrative, particularly in a scene where Range stares into the camera for two minutes, simply breathing. “Even though I hadn’t gone through that situation myself, I had heard about it,” Range explained. “I was just breathing to get to that point because, in the other takes, I was overwhelmed. I was on the verge of breaking.” The film exemplified how artistry isn’t just about storytelling — it’s also about the cinematography, acting, and the emotions conveyed beyond the script. 

Charlotte Mangin and Sandra Rattley, co-directors of “Searching for Augusta,” turned the conversation toward representation in the art world. Their documentary investigates the erasure of Black women artists from major U.S. institutions. Mangin highlighted the disparity: “Women and gender-nonconforming individuals are severely underrepresented in major museum collections. Only 0.5% of works in the public collections of the 20 major art museums in this country are by Black women.” The film seeks to uncover and spotlight the legacy of Augusta Savage –– an activist, sculptor, and writer whose contributions to the Harlem Renaissance have been largely forgotten. By broadening its scope beyond just Savage, “Searching for Augusta” addresses the systemic marginalization of Black women in the art world.

A common theme among the filmmakers was the idea that art extends beyond personal expression — it carves out space for others to be seen and heard. This sentiment resonated deeply with the audience, culminating in an unexpected yet fitting conclusion to the event. To close the discussion, Whitney Bradshaw invited attendees to join in a screaming session — an opportunity to release, express, and take up space in a world that often silences them.

The “Shorts: Artists on Artistry” screening was more than just a film showcase; it was a testament to art’s ability to heal, challenge, and create new pathways for voices that have long been marginalized.