PEACE: Student Voices In Action

The Patchogue Arts Council PEACE Project is proud to announce its inaugural Film Festival, taking place on Thursday, September 26, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 East Main Street, Patchogue, NY. This exciting event will highlight the transformative power of film to amplify diverse student voices, inspire social change, and celebrate the innovative partnerships between artists, filmmakers, educators, and students. Doors will open at 6:00 PM, and Screenings will begin at 7:00 PM.

The festival will feature four powerful short films, each documenting a unique collaboration between artists, teachers, and high school students. These partnerships, formed through participation in the PEACE Project, provided students with a rare opportunity to engage in the filmmaking process, using their art to explore and express critical issues affecting their lives and communities.

This event is hosted in partnership with the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, with support from the US Department of Education.

Featured films include:

OUT OF THE DARKNESS (11:11)

Educator: ALEXA TOYAS ENL
Other Participating Staff:
Maira Zavala, Bilingual SW
Keegan Bishop, Art Teacher
Diane Fox, Director of Bilingual and Alternative Education
Michael T. Carlson, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
Teaching Artists: KIMBERLY ZAMBRANO, Visual Arts and MIROSLAVA GONZALEZ Documentary Film
Students Grades 9-12 at Hampton Bays High School

KINETIC CANVAS (10:27)

Educator: MICHAEL HERSHKOWITZ, Director of Fine and Performing Arts
Cultural Partner(s): PAOLO BARTOLANI & ALINA WILCZYNSKI - Music Interpretation through Light/Color/Movement
Students Grades 9-12 at Islip High School

WHAT IS HOME? (3:30)

Educator: BONNIE BREDES - Librarian
Other Participating Staff: James Spinaris - Technology Teacher
Teaching Artist: HOLLY HUNT - Photography/Multimedia
Students Grades 9-12 at Center Moriches High School

STORYTELLING THROUGH FILM (13:18)

Educator: BETSY KENNEDY
‍Teaching Artist: CATHERINE OBERG
‍Director: Jaret Martino
Students Grades 10-12 at Brentwood High School

Additionally, the event will showcase Stand Tall, a student documentary made possible through Eastern Suffolk BOCES, inspired by a PEACE Project partnership.

"My students face significant trauma which impedes their learning. This project gives them space to process these memories and celebrate their cultures while learning important academic and SEL skills so that they can be successful in the classroom," said Alexa Toyas, a participating high school teacher and PEACE Project fellow.

"Student voice is already there. It's not something we give. It's something we honor. And we do when we listen," adds Monte Syrie, underscoring the festival's focus on student empowerment.

Doors will open at 6:00 PM, with a red carpet event to celebrate the students, educators, teaching artists, film crews, and special guests who contributed to these impactful films.