Sarasota is hosting the 26th annual “Through Women’s Eyes” International Film Festival March 6 – 11 in Sarasota. Two highly talented, former Ringling College female students will debut their documentary, “Culture War” at the film festival.
“Culture War” synopsis: The film depicts how New College, a small liberal arts institution in Sarasota, Florida, became the center of a heated debate when Governor Ron DeSantis appointed new conservative trustees to the college’s board in early 2023. This move was part of a broader effort to reshape the institution’s direction and curriculum. On January 6th, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis waged a war against “wokeness” and appointed six new members to New College of Florida’s Board of Trustees, marking a shift in leadership at the small, progressive public school and flipping its world upside down for the college’s community. The consequences of the appointment are immediate, with the firing of the now former president, Patricia Okker, the abolishment of the diversity and inclusion office, the end of the gender studies major, the recruitment of student athletes, and the diaspora of dozens of faculty members. This case received national and international attention. Governor DeSantis, at the time in the race to be the Republican representative in the next presidential election, had made himself directly attached to the events happening at this small liberal arts institution. New College’s situation represents the endless opportunities for government control of public educational institutions and the many impacts.
Culture War focuses on the events and controversy surrounding New College. The documentary explores the conflict between the college community and the state government over educational freedom and should not be missed during the Film Festival week.
Formerly of Sarasota and a 2024 graduate of Ringling College of Art & Design, Celi now resides in LA, and was born and raised in Brazil. At 23, Celi says she was drawn to producing a documentary as “it has the power to amplify voices and tell stories that might otherwise go unheard. For me, it’s not just about capturing moments – it’s about building trust, forming deep connections and creating films that inspire understanding and action.”
Born in Buenos Aires, Milena now resides in Miami. and works as a freelance director, producer and cinematographer. “As a filmmaker drawn to stories where art meets activism, the transformation of New College of Florida represented a pivotal moment in American higher education that demanded documentation,” she says. “As film students at Ringling, New College’s sister school, we had a front-row seat to history unfolding. The sudden ideological shift of this small liberal arts college became a microcosm of larger, national debates about academic freedom and government influence in education.”
For information about the film festival, visit: https://throughwomenseyes.org/reel-equals-film-festival/.
Note: The Film Festival is available for in-person or streaming
For tickets to “Culture War, “see here:
