The Shawna Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Arts Non-Profit named after Shawna Shea who passed away at the age of 16. At this very tender age, and even before that, she gravitated to those who lived in the margins of life. We continue this work in her memory: honoring creativity and independence and giving people a chance.
Our Mission
The mission of the Shawna Foundation is to equitably promote and support students through scholarship and showcase artists in filmmaking, performance arts, poetry and other creative endeavors with a focus on underrepresented communities.
The Foundations programs include Local Scholarships, A Women in Film Fellowship, Fiscal Sponsorship, The Library Poetry Tour, and more.
We believe the arts and education are essential to creating a vibrant, healthy community and world.
Film as Subversive Art
Amos Vogel
Our philosophy for films we want to screen at the Shawna Shea Film Festival is best explained in the 2005 version of Amos Vogel's book "Film as a Subversive Art."
In it he explains the importance of independent cinema and festivals, "not those fake 'independent' films whose makers only aspire to become the next Hollywood stars, but those true iconoclasts and independent features, avant-garde or documentary filmmakers—who even under today's bleak circumstances audaciously continue to 'transgress' (i.e. subvert) narrative modes, themes, structures, and the visual/aural conventions of mainstream cinema."
We hope to introduce our Patreon supporters to this kind of work. In film, art, poetry and more...
We will have exclusive screenings to movies, essays and poems and digital art. We will expand our UnderGround Wednesday exploration of cult cinema to have Patreon episodes. Patreon supporters will have access to interviews with artists before we publish it on our Creating Dangerously podcast.
In essence, all of our live program events will now have a Patreon component for subscribers. From our Library Poetry Tour to our Pop-Up Art Exhibits to UnderGround Wednesday screenings to the Shawna Shea Film Festival and Mass Indie Film Festival. You no longer have to live in Central Massachusetts to participate.
For a $10.00 monthly fee you will have access to this and more. And help us to continue to do our work in honoring Shawna. Thank you!
SSFF 2025 Films Screening Exclusively on the
Shawna Foundation Patreon Site
Features
Horror
Staycation by Russell Emanuel
Narrative
The Politician, the Demolition & the Dump Truck by Ayoto Ataraxia (Taiwan)
First Person Savior by Ramzi Abed
Documentary
Third Degree Burnout by Nivi Jaswal, Darren Suffolk
Know Her Name by Zainab Muse (Canada)
I Am An Alien by Ramzi Abed
Experimental
Let Love In by Ramzi Abed
Shorts
Symptoms by Eliza Gibson
When Everything Was Blue by Christina Chironna
My Life Between The Reins by Marilyn Slick
American Family Calamity by Drew Dammron
Bear Brook by Tom Anastasi
Not Today, Not Tomorrow by Neil Miguel Watson
Zaxme by soore vahe
Bart & Bobbi Kill Each Other! by Aaron Barrocas
Robot by Matilda Morales
Avocado Heart Girl by Keeley Gainey
Aunt Cindy and The Alchemist by Devin Scott
MassIFF 2025 Films Screening Exclusively on the
Shawna Foundation Patreon Site
FEATURES
Atrabilious by William Atticus Parker
Atrabilious follows Steven Joyner as he tries to solve the mystery behind his son's sudden, tragic and potentially fabricated death. He is led to the titular bar, Atrabilious, and begins to unravel the history of the establishment.
Screens with the short Viva Extra by Kevin Samar
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The Cowboy by Emma Rozanski (Colombia)
If the cowboy boot fits, wear it.
The arrival of a stray horse triggers a series of events in Bernicia’s life that alters her world as she slowly takes on the persona of a cowboy. Through her journey, she must overcome several obstacles that threaten her newfound desires. EL VAQUERO (THE COWBOY) is an uplifting drama about self-determination.
Screens with Irish Goodbye by Patrick Conaway
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First Person Savior by Ramzi Abed
Caught between a thankless job with cruel co-workers and a surreal home life consisting of video games, fast food and insomnia, Abe finds out that he has a higher purpose. No matter what, violence is never the answer.
Screens with the short A Little Human Spark by Bill Dwyer
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Home Free by Avi Ronn Federgreen (Canada)
Herb and Audry have had a near perfect relationship for over fifty years. This anniversary, Herb has a few surprises in store for his three estranged daughters; Daisy, the youngest, Ivy, the middle child, and Rain, the eldest. Herb, having recently been diagnosed with a fatal brain tumour, announces that he is choosing to die on his own terms and is not seeking treatment.
Screens with the short Napoleonic Code by Michael Cusumano
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Wallie’s Gals by Mary C. Ferrara
It's 1989 and "Wallie's Big Deals" isn't doing too well due to competition, so the employees, affectionately called “Wallie’s Gals,” use their unique personalities to get more business. Fast forward 30 years, Maxine, the store’s manager, needs them back.
Screens with Walter and the Long Weekend by Nate Conway
When Walter is foisted upon his gambler of an Uncle CC, whereupon he is enveloped into the gambler’s world of card games, degenerates, and dive bars. As the days progress and the old debts, bad decisions, and new predicaments begin to mount it will take some luck and understanding on both sides for them to make it through the weekend unscathed.
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FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES
Tale of The Tape by Malik K. Buie
Tale of The Tape explores the history of the mixtape culture and how the DJs involved revolutionized music.
Screens with Dear Dad by Burton Rocks
Fierro by Edward Tyndall
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SHORTS
BLOCK ONE (Narrative Shorts)
Shook by Joel Rosen
Good Buddies by Joe P LaRocca
The Playground by Greg Tulonen
Insanectification by Jasen Walter Richardson
Bat Country by Ellen Keith
SHORTS BLOCK TWO (Mixed Bag)
A collection of shorts that run the gamut of the Mass Indie Film Festival, from thought provoking documentaries, to absurd experimental films, to animation to an amazing selection representing our international reach.
Endlessly an Observer: Portrait of a Portrait Maker by Brian Carroll
Just Right Justice by Julia Tutko-Balena
Motherhood: A Generational Journey by Paul Conley
The Aura of Upstate by Evens Angulo-Duvil
Before the Freeze by Tenley Eakin Raj
A Piece Of Blue Sky Over My Head by Olivier Klein (France)
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