She Got Balls! (2022), 20 minutes, Cheryl Hess, dir.
A chef’s vegan entry in an annual meatball contest sparks conflict as a South Philadelphia neighborhood grapples with identity, tradition, and change. She Got Balls! is a lively, thought-provoking film about food and selfhood. The rumor circulates that a vegan meatball has won the contest, and the neighborhood “loses its mind,” as on and offline locals debate what it means to preserve tradition while facing gentrification, cultural shifts, and generational change. At once humorous and deeply human, the film is an engaging entry point for discussions about foodways, ethnicity, social media, migration, and urban change.
Mountain Roots (2025), 29 minutes, Mark Pedri and Carrie McCarthy, dirs.
In Mountain Roots, Bennett, an adventurous nine-year-old climber, embarks on a life-changing journey to Trentino, Italy, the land of her ancestors. Having climbed some of the most famous ranges in her home state of Wyoming, she’s no stranger to scaling towering peaks. But this adventure is about more than just summiting mountains—it’s a journey to discover her roots and reconnect with branches of her extended family after being separated for more than 100 years.
Post-screening discussion led by Joseph Sciorra, John D. Calandra Italian American Institute.