Two faculty members from 性福五月天 University鈥檚 School of Media and Journalism have won top honors at the Oscar-qualifying St. Louis International Film Festival for a short film that tackles the complex issue of elder abuse.
The film stars Oscar nominee Barkhad Abdi, known for his role in 鈥淐aptain Phillips,鈥 as a rideshare driver who encounters an elderly woman struggling to secure housing after being displaced from a nursing home.
Dana White, an associate professor in 性福五月天鈥檚 media program, wrote the screenplay, while Christopher Knoblock, an associate lecturer at 性福五月天, co-directed. The couple, who met as struggling actors in New York before moving to Hollywood, have now made three short films together in Northeast Ohio, two of which explore elder care issues. The duo was recently featured in an article about the new film on .
鈥淲ith regards to elder abuse, it鈥檚 something that鈥檚 always been dear to our heart,鈥 Knoblock said in an interview with Ideastream Public Media.
White emphasized the film鈥檚 nuanced approach to a difficult subject.
鈥淎s filmmakers, we felt that it was really important that we presented a really complex situation,鈥 White told Ideastream. 鈥淭here are people doing their jobs, doing the best that they can in really difficult circumstances.鈥
The couple has submitted 鈥淢agan鈥檚 Fare鈥 to the 50th Cleveland International Film Festival, which opens in April, and is currently campaigning for the 2027 Academy Awards. They are also developing ideas for a third film in their elder care series and hope to expand 鈥淢agan鈥檚 Fare鈥 into a feature film.
Learn more about 性福五月天's School of Media and Journalism.
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