The USC Schwarzenegger Institute partnered with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington, D.C., Outside the Box [Office], and the USC School of Cinematic Arts to host a special screening of The Teachers’ Lounge, winner of the LUX Audience Award and nominee for Best International Feature at the 96th Academy Awards.
Walter Goetz, Director of the European Parliament Liaison Office, opened the event by discussing the significance of the LUX Audience Awards and the European Parliament’s commitment to showcasing films that tackle important social issues. Following Walter’s remarks, USC Schwarzenegger Institute’s Allison Kay moderated a conversation with LaWanda Toney, Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Education, focusing on key themes from the film and how they relate to the Department’s initiatives.
Allison kicked off the discussion by asking LaWanda about the Department of Education’s (DOE) efforts to address teacher retention and shortages. LaWanda emphasized that this is a critical issue for the DOE, which is why they are tackling it through various measures, including fair pay and career support for teachers. The discussion then shifted to another DOE priority: the mental health crisis. LaWanda highlighted how the pandemic has intensified the impact on both students and teachers, and how the DOE is working with schools to ensure access to necessary resources. To close, Allison asked how the audience could support local schools. LaWanda encouraged everyone—parents, teachers, students, and community members—to get involved, as all schools benefit from additional support.
The event then moved to a screening of the film. Following the screening, there was a pre-recorded Q&A with Director Ilker Çatak and moderated by Alessandro Ago, Executive Director of Film Programming and Special Projects at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. During their conversation, Ilker shared his personal experiences that lead him to create this film, the research behind the film, and his motivations for highlighting the issues presented in the film.