(Sarasota-Manatee) The Shapiro Teen Engagement Program (STEP) of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is partnering with JFCS of the Suncoast and Source Productions to present a screening of the highly acclaimed film, “Surviving Lunch.”
The screening, followed by a panel discussion, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Beatrice Friedman Theater on the Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life at 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota.
The chilling and provocative film, which was selected as best narrative feature at both the Sarasota Film Festival and the Fort Myers Film Festival, focuses on bullying and school violence, and about what it means to be a teenager in America today.
Source Productions, a division of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, and award-winning filmmaker KT Curran, produced this riveting film in 2018, and had just begun casting when the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting incident in Parkland, Florida, occurred, taking the lives of 14 students, two coaches and one teacher.
“As writer and director, I made this film because I am horrified and saddened by the ever-increasing amount of bullying, exclusion and gun violence in America’s schools,” said Curran.
“The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is thrilled to be a partner on this important film and panel discussion. This event will move us toward a better understanding of mental health disorders, and help remove the stigma that prevents people from seeking help,” said Federation Teen and Family Program Coordinator, Andrea Eiffert.
The film tells the story of Gabriella, a courageous New York teenager who moves to Florida with her mother after her father is killed in a school shooting. While trying to recover from her loss, Gabriella notices a boy being relentlessly bullied in the lunchroom – and decides to take a stand.
The film will be followed by a panel discussion. To register, please visitjfedsrq.org/events. For information, contact Andrea Eiffert at 941.552.6308 or aeiffert@jfedsrq.org.