“The Graduates”: How Hannah Logan Peterson uplifts female voices in front of and behind the camera
Writer-director Hannah Logan Peterson’s debut feature film “The Graduates” made its historic premiere last Friday as the first theatrical release of distribution company The Future of Films is Female (FOFIF), a new production initiative intended to platform progressive voices in film to broader audiences.
The film made impressive rounds in the festival circuit in 2023, being selected by prestigious festivals such as Tribeca and South by Southwest (SXSW). Peterson is no stranger to success at Tribeca in particular, as her debut short film “East of the River” premiered there in 2019, and her sophomore short film “Champ” was funded by a grant from the Tribeca Institute. “Champ” went on to screen at Sundance Film Festival and at the MoMA, where then-programmer and eventual founder of FOFIF Caryn Coleman discovered Peterson’s work. After the completion of its festival run, Peterson entered intense negotiations with distributors over the course of a year for “The Graduates,” with Coleman ultimately acquiring the project after the deal was negotiated by film conglomerate William Morris Endeavor on her behalf.
“The Graduates” tells the story of four survivors of a school shooting as they move through their last semester of senior year while grieving the loss of their friend Tyler (Daniel Kim). The film stars Mina Sundwall (Netflix’s “Lost in Space”), Alex R. Hibbert (“Moonlight”) and Yasmeen Fletcher (Marvel Studios’ “Ms. Marvel”). The Independent spoke with Fletcher on the impact of prioritizing women’s voices in filmmaking.
“Imparting a woman’s worldview both in front of the camera and behind not only ameliorates the energy, but opens doors for more stories and talent that otherwise would have been overlooked,” said Fletcher on working with Peterson. “[Peterson] and all of the other incredibly gifted women on that set were crucial facets of my holistic understanding of that belief.”
“The Graduates” features impactful diverse talent on both sides of the camera. The film is Executive Produced by Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zhao, known best for her directorial work on the 2021 Best Picture winner “Nomadland,” and shot by Carolina Costa, known for her cinematography work on Luca Guadanino’s “Suspiria.”
Focusing on the subtle reckonings of grief, the film sheds light on survivor’s guilt and how it can warp one’s sense of self. “It was the first time I’d seen a script highlight the mundane when considering grief. I feel like, more often than not, grief is shown as an extreme rather than a consistent weight that exists most noticeably in the in-between moments,” said Fletcher. “Both the subject of gun violence and grief were handled with such sensitive caution — I couldn’t help but love the warmth within it all.”
Fletcher also starred in Marvel Studios’ “Ms. Marvel,” one of Marvel’s first female-led titles, and first title with a Muslim lead. When speaking to her experience in working on multiple envelope-pushing projects, she said:
“It truly is my one and only goal to continue uplifting marginalized voices, especially those of the talented women in my field […] As an actress, I think you’re presented with more of a platform than other [roles] within the industry. I don’t believe it’s worth having that platform if you aren’t using it to strengthen the community as a whole, or use your voice for something bigger.”
Filmmaker Sean Baker, who wrote and directed Cannes Film Festival’s Palme D’or winner “Anora,” received a special thanks credit for his contributions to “The Graduates.” Prior to directing her own films, Peterson worked below-the-line on Baker’s sets, including on his Oscar-nominated picture “The Florida Project.” This awards season, both “Anora” and “The Graduates” are gearing up to go head-to-head, with potential competition for the Oscars, Golden Globes, SAG awards, and Film Independent awards in 2025.
“The Graduates” is set to make a limited theatrical run this week in Los Angeles and New York City and will become available in wider select markets after Thanksgiving.