15th Annual Women Take the Reel Film Festival presents: Can I Get a Witness

For fifteen years, Women Take the Reel has showcased cinema that sparks conversation and inspires change. This week, we invite you to the Bartos Theater for a tender, thought-provoking, and visually stunning exploration of a future we might one day face.

Starring the incomparable Sandra Oh, this award-winning film by director Ann Marie Fleming transports us to a speculative world where a collective decision has been made to save the planet. This poignant story follows teenagers tasked with witnessing end-of-life ceremonies, exploring themes of grief, acceptance, and compassion. It’s a compelling journey into the depths of human kindness and raises the powerful question: What are you willing to do for the greater good?

The evening begins with a relaxed pre-screening mix and mingle, creating space to connect with fellow film lovers and changemakers. Immediately following the screening, stay for an exclusive post-film conversation with director Ann Marie Fleming, joined by MIT professor Clara Montague, as they unpack the film’s themes of environmental sacrifice, mortality, and imagining a speculative future rooted in collective responsibility.

🎬 Evening Schedule
5:30 – 6:00 PM | Refreshments & Community Gathering - Enjoy light bites and conversation at the intimate Bartos Theatre.
6:00 – 8:00 PM | Featured Screening: Can I Get a Witness? (Award-Winning Film)
8:00 – 8:45 PM | Post-Film Q&A - Director Ann Marie Fleming in conversation with MIT WGS professor Clara Montague.

🎟 Event Information
Admission: Free and open to the public
Reservations Required: A ticket is required to reserve your seat

By attending, you’re not just watching a film—you’re supporting a festival that amplifies bold voices, sparks dialogue, and uses cinema to imagine a more just and compassionate future. Join us and be part of the conversation.

*If you have any accessibility accommodations needed to view the film, please let us know how we can meet your needs. Contact Vanmey: [email protected]

*This annual film festival is a collaborative effort among Women's and Gender Studies departments involved in the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality (as well as select institutions/universities aligned with its mission) that features films about issues relating to gender, race, sexuality, class and/or feminism.

This event would not be possible without the help of the Program in Media Arts & Sciences at the MIT Media Lab, the Program for Women's and Gender Studies at MIT, and the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality.

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Host or Publisher Consortium for Graduate Studies in GCWS