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Film by Alicia Leon ’27 Shown at Dominican Film Festival New York
Alicia Leon ’27, who joined Sarah Lawrence this fall from Bronx Community College (BCC), screened her short film In My Head at the Dominican Film Festival New York on October 23. The film — also shown at Frame Forward Student Video Festival
A dedicated writer and filmmaker, Alicia has already published her first book, La Realtà della Vita (2024), and is currently at work on her second, Eco di Parole, a reflection on memory, transformation, and finding her voice in another language. Alicia’s passion for Italian language and culture has shaped much of her creative path. “Working in Italian allows me to access different parts of myself,” she explains. Her journey began in Fall 2022, when she received a full scholarship from City College to travel to Rome during her first semester at BCC. She has since returned to Italy multiple times through scholarships to study at Scuola Dante Alighieri in Recanati, Macerata, and has collaborated with the University of Macerata and the Sferisterio Opera Festival.
Transitioning from BCC to Sarah Lawrence has offered Alicia new opportunities for close mentorship and meaningful collaboration. “I’ve really appreciated the increased connection with faculty and students,” she says. Her don, Italian faculty Tristana Rorandelli, adds, “Alicia is a wonderfully engaged, motivated, and talented student. She brings great energy to her work, and her command of Italian and her artistic curiosity exemplify the Sarah Lawrence student. It is an honor to be her don; she has a bright future ahead of her and I look forward to continue to mentor her while at SLC and beyond.”