1. W&L Presents Premiere Screening of ‘Letters to Eleanore’

By Emily Innes
January 24, 2025

Washington and Lee University presents the premiere of "Letters to Eleanore," a documentary by Nich L. Perez, on Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in Stackhouse Theater in Elrod Commons. The film screening is free and open to the public, and no tickets are required. A Q&A session with refreshments will follow the screening.

The screening is supported by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Department of Theater, Dance, and Film Studies.

Perez is currently the DeLaney Filmmaker-in-Residence with W&L's Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, where he teaches filmmaking courses, such as video production and documentary, as well as film studies under the Department of Theater, Dance, and Film Studies. In this position, he also continues to work on film projects with students.

"Letters to Eleanore" is an award-winning documentary about disability, perseverance and the endurance of love told through the story of a girl in her wheelchair. Perez created the film over six years in collaboration with his students, which explores the powerful journeys of children with cerebral palsy and their families.

"Creating 'Letters to Eleanore' was not just a filmmaking endeavor, but a deeply humbling journey into the lives of children with cerebral palsy and their families," Perez said. "As a director and writer, my primary goal was to approach their stories with the utmost sensitivity, ensuring their voices and experiences were captured with respect and authenticity. Collaborating with students from various universities brought a unique perspective to the project, as their fresh insights and dedication contributed to a more nuanced understanding of these families' lives."

The film focuses on the lives of two girls - Keith, from Canto Grande, Peru, and Olivia, from Litchfield, Minnesota - whose experiences highlight the stark contrast in societal attitudes toward disability in their respective countries. Keith and Olivia's stories are interwoven with the legacy of Eleanore, a girl born deaf and with cerebral palsy who was a lifetime wheelchair user and whose life inspired Eleanore's Project, a foundation dedicated to providing wheelchairs and support to children in less resourced parts of the world. "Letters to Eleanore" pays tribute to Eleanore and the movement of hope she inspired, and the film's grassroots storytelling is a testament to the strength of community.

"It was crucial to us that every moment filmed was not just a visual representation, but an honest reflection of [the girls'] resilience and love," Perez said. "Through this process, I've come to realize how powerful film can be as a tool for empathy and advocacy - and I hope to continue this service-learning filmmaking with my students here at W&L, to create media that does more than entertain - for it has the power to educate, uplift and spark meaningful social change. I look forward to sharing this meaningful work with our community."

A Filipino-American filmmaker, Perez's work focuses on personal human connections and exploring narratives through the lens of empathy and community. He is the founder and director of the Nonprofit Film Collective, a grassroots group of storytellers who collaborate with nonprofits, communities, students and institutions to tell meaningful stories that drive positive change and support those in need. Perez has taught at several universities, including Grinnell College and St. Mary's University, and has filmed in more than 50 countries.