Renowned filmmaker Ferne Pearlstein visited Colorado Mesa University this month as part of the Mav the Vote Engagement Series. Her visit launched the university premier of her latest film, XCLD: The Story of Cancel Culture. This marked Ferne's second visit to CMU. She previously came to screen her film The Last Laugh in 2023 as part of the university's annual Holocaust Awareness Series.
Joining her was Bob Edwards, a writer and filmmaker, and Pearlstein's spouse. During their time on campus, they engaged with students through a series of guest lectures, including a session in the Cinematic Design Tools class at CMU Tech, a campaign class on the main campus and a student luncheon hosted by Tiffany Kinney, PhD, department head of Languages, Literature, and Mass Communication.
Later that evening, the duo participated in a panel discussion with comedian Judy Gold following the screening of Pearlstein’s film, which was executive produced by Trevor Noah. President Marshall facilitated the discussion and hosted a live Q&A session with the audience in Asteria Theatre.
This enriching experience not only showcased Pearlstein’s impactful work but also fostered meaningful discussion around critical topics and the importance of dialogue. The engagement between the filmmakers and students highlights CMU's commitment to providing a platform for diverse voices, encouraging critical thinking and nurturing the next generation of storytellers in the arts.