Set a year after a school shooting, The Graduates is a poignant exploration of grief, healing, and the search for meaning in the wake of tragedy. Hannah Peterson’s deeply personal direction captures the raw, unspoken moments of resilience that define teenage life, while the intimate, naturalistic cinematography draws viewers into the fragile beauty of the everyday. Produced by Jon Cho and Chloé Zhao and anchored by quietly powerful performances, this deeply moving film invites us to sit with the weight of loss and the courage it takes to imagine a way forward.
Each screening of the feature will be preceded by the short film Grace. In this MdFF 2024 favorite, sixteen-year-old Grace prepares for her baptism in the rural 1950's South. When she learns she must repent before the ritual, Grace contemplates her romantic feelings toward her best friend Louise.
**Special screening with director conversations on Thursday, January 9 at 7pm, in partnership with Baltimore Women’s Media Alliance. Grace director Natalie Jasmine Harris joins us in person and Hannah Peterson via Zoom will discuss their work with moderator Jena Burchick of Towson University and BWMA.**