UNCSA to host screening of ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’ and conversation with Director Susan Seidelman on Sept. 27

The UNCSA School of Filmmaking will continue its Symposium guest artist series with an evening featuring film director, producer and writer Susan Seidelman on Friday, Sept. 27. The free event, which is open to the public, includes a screening of Seidelman’s cult classic "Desperately Seeking Susan," featuring Madonna, followed by a conversation about her new memoir, "Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir About Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls," moderated by Filmmaking faculty member Michael Miller. Barnes & Noble will also be hosting a book signing with Seidelman directly before the event at 6 p.m.

The event will be at 7 p.m. in the ACE Exhibition Complex on the UNCSA campus, 1533 S. Main St.

Seidelman’s appearance is part of the School of Filmmaking’s Symposium, a dynamic guest artist series that brings together filmmakers, poets, fine artists, activists and educators to explore how creative work shapes our world. Through screenings, discussions and lectures, the Symposium will explore unique voices and perspectives. In several instances Symposium will also collaborate with other UNCSA conservatories including the School of Drama and School of Music.

“We’re honored to have Susan Seidelman join us as part of our ongoing Symposium series,” said Deborah LaVine, dean of the School of Filmmaking. “Her work has continually pushed boundaries and opened doors for a multitude of voices in film. This event, along with the broader Symposium, gives our community and our students the chance to engage with influential creators who are shaping the future of storytelling, while also reflecting on the cultural significance of their work.”

The full Symposium schedule includes:

• Oct. 4: Award-winning producer Diana Williams will lead a conversation on how the entertainment industry will evolve over the next 100 years.
• Oct. 11: Caroline Armijo, activist and founder of The Lilies Project, will speak on the intersection of art and advocacy.
• Oct. 18: A panel discussion during UNCSA Homecoming Weekend will feature distinguished Filmmaking alumni.
• Oct. 25: Mathew Sandoval of Arizona State University will explore the transformation of Day of the Dead from Indigenous ritual to Hollywood spectacle.
• Nov. 1: In collaboration with the Southern Documentary Fund, producer Darcy McKinnon will present "The Neutral Ground," followed by a conversation with McKinnon and the Southern Documentary Fund team.
• Nov. 1: A screening of the documentary "Roleplay," with a conversation featuring the film’s producers, Darcy McKinnon and Jenny Mercein, and director Katie Mathews.
• Nov. 8: Iranian American filmmaker and music archivist Cyrus Mousavvi will discuss his work focusing on overlooked and unheard voices. As part of a new partnership with UNCSA, Working Theater and the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, Mousavvi is working with Filmmaking students on a documentary about the of the lives and struggles of delivery workers in New York City.
• Nov. 15: Film scholar and filmmaker Gary Mairs will present his film "Adulthood," exploring the tumultuous lives of young adults.
• Nov. 15: A screening of Fritz Lang’s groundbreaking 1927 film "Metropolis" with a live metal score performed by The Silent Light, hosted by Gary Mairs.
• Nov. 22: Artist Nisha Bansil will lead a hands-on workshop on the study of Cymatics.
• Dec. 6: TBD

All Symposium events are free, open to the public and held in the ACE Exhibition Complex on the UNCSA campus.

For more information and a detailed schedule, visit the UNCSA School of Filmmaking Symposium page.

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