GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College will showcase short YouTube films made by local youth in collaboration with older adults during its Intergenerational Film Festival on Thursday, April 23.

The festival is part of GCC’s Cyber-Seniors initiative, which allows local youth to help older adults learn to use technology while building relationships across generations. The program is carried out in partnership with the Greenfield Senior Center.

According to GCC’s Associate Dean for Community Engagement Judy Raper, who oversees the initiative, Cyber-Seniors started out small five years ago, focusing just on technological support. However, as the program has gained grants and monetary support, it expanded.

“As we have received grants to expand the program, I had a dream that we would one day do a film festival,” Raper recounted. “Last year was the first time we were able to do that … but it was a massive success and people absolutely loved it.”

For Raper, she has always been interested in developing intergenerational bonds, and cutting through the misunderstandings that often hurt the development of such relationships.

“Different generations often misunderstand each other, and characterize each other on stereotypes, so I have always been committed to connecting different generations,” she explained. “[By teaching about technology], it allows the younger person to connect around something they’re comfortable with, and from there, many of the stereotypes they may have had about what it means to get older are interrupted, and really incredible relationships can form.”

Raper pointed out that in some cases, intergenerational pairs have actually kept in touch after Cyber-Seniors and have continued meeting for coffee or meals, representing the positive outcomes that can result from the initiative. Regardless, Raper believes all of the relationships that come from the program, short or long, are fruitful.

“I really value the long-lasting, meaningful relationships that come out of this project, but even the short-term relationships, where the pair are just focusing on a creative project together, are beneficial as well,” Raper said. “The reality is that [because older people] grew up without technology, it actually made making interpersonal connections easier, so young people have a lot to learn from us about building meaningful relationships.”

The films highlight shared interests, personal stories and creative exploration. This year, some young participants opted to make a film with their grandparents as opposed to a stranger, which demonstrates the possibilities for the project going forward.

“One person used the project this year to get to know her grandparents. Last year, everyone talked to strangers,” Raper noted. “So, now she has this nice memento of interviews with her grandparents that describe their formative years and how they built this house that [the student] spent time in as a child.”

The Intergenerational Film Festival will be held in the Cohn Family Dining Commons from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 23. The event will feature a chance for the intergenerational pairs to discuss the films and their experience with the audience. There will also be a free community meal. 

Raper said she hopes that the audience can find joy in the festival and also celebrate the lessons the project represents.

“Right now, joy is hard to come by, and I think this festival will provide that,” she said. “We are going through a hard time as a country right now, and I think any opportunity to bring a community together and celebrate connection and art is great, and this is one of those opportunities.”

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at gcc.mass.edu/events/franklin-county-intergenerational-film-festival.

Tony Hernandez is a student at Greenfield Community College.