Professor Megan Rossman Wins Best Short Doc at the Provincetown International Film Festival

We’re proud to share that Associate Professor of Communications Megan Rossman received the Best Short Documentary award at The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) for her new film, We’ll Carry On Alright.

The film focuses on the friendship between Mabel Hampton, an African American, lesbian, and activist, and Joan Nestle, a white, lesbian and Jewish professor who is 40 years her junior. Ms. Hampton cared for Joan as a child, and roles reversed when Joan cared for Ms. Hampton at the end of her life.

Two Purchase alumni worked on the film as production and research assistants, JoAnna Hensel ’20 (Communications) and Jessica Jimenez ’20 (Playwriting and Screenwriting).

The Festival

Now in its 27th year, the Provincetown International Film Festival highlights diverse films and, according to MovieMaker Magazine, “leans into the area’s history as both an arts mecca and a longtime getaway and sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community.”

“At a time when we are seeing the dismantling of rights for LGBTQIA+ people and people of color, I am grateful that Provincetown Film Festival has awarded this film which celebrates the power of queer solidarity.

“Through the power, value, and strength of our presence and artistic contributions we honor the rich and diverse experiences of our communities,” says Rossman.

Since PIFF is Academy Award-qualifying festival, the winners in the short film categories are automatically eligible to enter the Short Films competition for the concurrent season of the Oscars.

Director, Professor, and Chair

Rossman’s work as a documentary filmmaker explores the LGBTQIA+ experience and has aired on PBS and screened internationally at over 125 film festivals.

Her feature-length debut, The Archivettes has screened as an official selection at over 75 film festivals. The Hollywood Reporter called the documentary a “warm tribute to second-wave feminism.” The Queer Review called it “a gift to the future.”

Rossman also worked as a multimedia journalist at The Washington Post and as the director of video at Teach For America. In 2011, she won an Emmy for her video Unfinished Business: Earth Day, 40 Years Later. In 2009, Rossman collaborated on “A Mother’s Risk,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in international reporting.

Rossman is both an associate professor of communications and chair of the Communications BS program.