IFF and React to Film begin the 2015–2016 year with a screening of “The Hunting Ground”
On September 29th, 2015, Ivy Film Festival and React to Film held a screening of “The Hunting Ground”. From the team behind “The Invisible War”, this groundbreaking documentary is a startling exposé of sexual assault on U.S. campuses, institutional cover-ups and the brutal social toll on victims and their families. Weaving together verité footage and first-person testimonies, the film follows survivors as they pursue their education while fighting for justice — despite harsh retaliation, harassment and pushback at every level.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion and Q&A in conjunction with the Sarah Doyle’s Women Center. Moderated by Sage Fanucchi of the Sarah Doyle’s Women Center, the featured panelists were:
- Sara Matthesien, a Brown University grad student who has worked on the Sexual Assault Task Force
- Stefanie Kaufman ’17, Founder and Executive Director of Project LETS, as well as a spoken word poet and mental health activist;
- Alana Sacks, a SHARE (Sexual Harassment & Assault Resources & Education) coordinator who provides support to survivors here at Brown
- Anastasiya Gorodilova ’16, Co-Editor in Chief of Bluestockings Magazine as well as a Student Engagement Organizer for Know Your IX.
The panel discussion explored the issue of campus sexual assault, and debated the nature and narratives in which the film approached it. Panelists also considered Brown in the context of this film, and discussed the university’s available resources concerning sexual assault on campus.
