Hello! My name is Elizabeth Kurtzman and I am entering my fourth year as a PhD student in Theatre and Performance Studies at Pitt. My main areas of research are horror, immersive experiences, and affect theory, with a particular focus on the ways in which the various elements of a production work together to affect audiences emotionally and physically. I have been incredibly lucky to live and work in Pittsburgh, a city that has a vibrant history with filmmaking, art, and theatre, and I am excited to work with one of the most influential advocates for independent filmmaking in the city—Film Pittsburgh—for my Humanities Engage Summer Immersive Fellowship.

For nearly four decades, Film Pittsburgh has been a vital part of the arts and cultural scene in the city. Every year, they present four film festivals which feature the work of independent filmmakers from around the world: the Three Rivers Film Festival, Pittsburgh Shorts and Script Competition, ReelAbilities, and JFilm. In addition to these festivals, they have also expanded their educational program Teen Screen, and they are preparing for their second annual independent filmmakers conference in the fall. This summer, I will be working with Film Pittsburgh in three capacities: increasing the reach of their educational Teen Screen program, expanding their base of volunteers, and making connections with local businesses and organizations whose values align with Film Pittsburgh’s mission to build audience empathy and understanding and to recognize the common humanity in all people.

Due to my own academic and pedagogical interest in film, I was immediately drawn to the Teen Screen program, a free educational initiative that uses film to explore important and sometimes difficult topics with students. These films introduce middle and high students to ideas, cultures, and people different from themselves, encouraging empathy and understanding across boundaries. It began as an in-person program that was held at various local theaters, but the pandemic forced the Teen Screen team to pivot to a virtual classroom, a change that allowed them to expand outside of Pittsburgh and to feature guest speakers who would not have been able to visit the theaters. Though they have returned to physical screenings in Pittsburgh, one of my tasks this summer is to find ways for the virtual Teen Screen program to expand outside of Pittsburgh and to reach teachers from other districts, other states, and to eventually transition to being a national program. My own research explores the powerful effect that film has upon audiences, and I have often used film in my own classroom to spark empathy or to illustrate ideas. The Teen Screen model, which emphasizes contextualization from educators and from guest speakers, is one that I would emulate and advocate for in the future.

Additionally, I will be making connections with film students at universities around Pittsburgh and beyond who are willing to volunteer with the organization, either at events or as screeners for the festivals. Every year, the organization receives hundreds of submissions for their festivals, far more than the staff members and program director could watch on their own, so Film Pittsburgh uses a network of volunteers and film enthusiasts to preview these films. I was struck immediately by the opportunities that this process could present to young filmmakers and students, and the ways in which it could be framed pedagogically. Previewers have the opportunity to watch new work from around the world and think critically about the craftmanship, the creativity, and the themes of those films in the process. For young filmmakers and film students, this is an opportunity to see behind the scenes of film festival preparation and to learn more about independent filmmaking.

Finally, I will be using this opportunity to learn more about how nonprofit arts organizations like Film Pittsburgh not only keep the lights on, but continue to grow and offer new and exciting programs every season. Fundraising, grant-writing, and marketing are a major component of every nonprofit, and for an organization like Film Pittsburgh, which is both well-established and ever-expanding, the process involves maintaining their current relationships while also seeking new partnerships for growth. For years, as a student, an audience member, and also as a practicing artist, I have reaped the benefits of arts organizations without having to consider all the work done behind the scenes by art advocates. Wherever my career path leads after Pitt, I know that I will continue to be an advocate for the arts and for education in the humanities. Through this immersive fellowship, I am eager to acquire the skills to make that work successful and sustainable, while also learning more about the practicalities of making the humanities accessible, inclusive, and educational.