W&M PROGRAMMING
The 2026 Ampersand Festival features guest conversations, films, and industry summit events from dozens of W&M alumni, students, and faculty.
Film highlight programming includes a screening of One Big Happy Family, Linda Lavin’s ’59 last film and a screening of The Fastest Six Weeks in Sports, which was executive produced by Chelsea Marotta ’12.
Live performance programming includes Jenny Hagel Gives Advice, an interactive comedy show where Jenny ’98 responds to audience questions, a script-read performance of a play written by Christopher Adams ’08, Perfect Broken performed by Renata Sheppard ’04, and Handmade, a gallery exhibit featuring the art of Zara Fina Stasi ’12 and current students.
Author talks include a program with Kyle Carrero Lopez ’17 and a panel discussion with Professor Brian Castleberry and visiting Professor Rachel Beanland.
Industry Summit sessions are presented by Laurette Prevost ’05, Bryan Thompson J.D. ’12 and many others.
All of the events below are free and open to the public with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
DEATH OF A CHILD STAR
Presented by Carter Amos ’23
Monday, March 16, 7:30 PM, MacKenzie Theater, Free
2025, USA, 90 min, Not Rated
Former child actress Maja April is released from a mental health facility. Recovering from on-set abuse, she wants nothing more than a fresh start in life. Her efforts are threatened, however, when the producer of her old show resurfaces to terrorize her.
STITCHING STRENGTH
Featuring Dr. Rick Bedlack ’88
Tuesday, March 17, 7:30 PM, MacKenzie Theater, Free
2025, USA, 40 min, Not Rated
Stitching Strength captures the fight against ALS, a terminal disease that strips away the body’s control; through a lens of creativity, courage, and connection. At its heart is Dr. Rick Bedlack (W&M ’88), a neurologist whose bold fashion and bolder optimism set the tone for a radically different kind of care. But this isn’t just his story. It’s about the patients who refuse to be defined by their diagnosis and the families who turn grief into art, music, and action. Read more about Dr. Bedlack’s work to find a cure for ALS in the W&M Alumni Magazine.
Featuring a Q&A discussion with Dr. Bedlack following the film
24 SPEED: FILMMAKING COMPETITION SCREENING
Tuesday, March 17, 9:30 PM, Kimball Theatre, Free
Established in 2007, the annual 24 Speed Filmmaking Competition challenges participants to create a short film in 24 hours, including an assigned genre, prop, and line of dialogue. This screening features a showcase of the 2026 entries in the 24 Speed competition created by current W&M students, culminating in an awards ceremony for the top films, including an Audience Award as voted on during the screening!
Produced in partnership with the W&M Libraries and the Reeder Media Center
STUDENT POP-UP SHOP
Wednesday, March 18, 5:30 PM, Entrepreneurship Hub, Free
The Student Pop-Up Shop features makers, artists, and student founders from across William & Mary. This drop-in marketplace highlights the creativity and entrepreneurial thinking happening on campus, from handmade goods and art to design projects and student-led ventures. Meet the students behind the work, browse unique creations, and see ideas take shape through hands-on experimentation.
Produced in partnership with the W&M Entrepreneurship Hub
DISPLACED FROM THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICA
Presented by Professor Amy Quark
Thursday, March 19, 7:30 PM, Tucker Theater, Free
2025, USA, 26 min, Not Rated
The Historic Triangle Block, a Black business district and surrounding community in Williamsburg, VA, was displaced under the auspices of “urban renewal” in the 1970s. Centering displaced families as storytellers, this project moves with love — a sacred act of remembrance, honoring the tight-knit community of residents and business owners who once sustained Black life and culture. Director Jacqueline Williams, whose grandmother's home was replaced with a parking lot, leads displaced families as they stand on the shoulders of their activist parents and grandparents who pushed back against their displacement by city elite. The film follows the struggles of the Black community to claim a place in Williamsburg, a city that brands itself the “birthplace of the nation” and the “cradle of American democracy.” In doing so, the film pushes audiences to rethink what it means to belong not just in the city but in the nation.
Featuring a Q&A discussion with the documentary subjects following the film
W&M SHORTS PROGRAM #1
Thursday, March 19, 9:00 PM, Tucker Theater, Free
Cadence of Mind presented by Owen Cassidy ’25
Nebraskamerican presented by Erik Wells ’23
VALENTINE’S DATE
Presented by Bryan G. Thompson, J.D. ’12
Friday, March 20, 2:00 PM, PBK Hall Studio Theater, Free
A couple seeking a quick divorce must survive a chaotic and crazy weekend retreat to get it.
ALOHA LAHAINA ALOHA
Presented by Gabe Kuenzli, MBA ’27
Friday, March 20, 4:30 PM, PBK Hall Studio Theater, Free
2025, USA, 56 min, Not Rated
The town of Lahaina, HI was a beautiful, unique place full of history, culture, and community. However, all of that changed when the Maui Wildfires burned almost all of Lahaina to the ground in August 2023. Now, the struggles, heartaches, and, most importantly, the perseverance of the people of Maui shine through as they find a way to move forward together.
THE FASTEST SIX WEEKS IN SPORTS
Presented by Chelsea Marotta ’12
Friday, March 20, 7:00 PM, PBK Hall Studio Theater, Free
2025, USA, Six Episode Series; 78 min (full series), Not Rated
45 days. That’s all there is between the NCAA Championship and the start of the WNBA season. For draft prospects, lives are transformed in the blink of an eye as the battle for a championship title, graduation, the draft, and training camp all collide. Executive Produced by WNBA star Kelsey Plum, this six-part docuseries embeds with soon-to-be rookies Georgia Amoore and Sania Feagin. In a draft class where talent runs deep, it’s anyone’s guess which teams they’ll end up on — and once they’re drafted, it’ll be their job to fight for a spot on a final roster. We’ll see the painstaking pressure and joys these players feel every step of the way as they carry the expectations of their sport, their families, and themselves through “the fastest six weeks in sports.”
WEMAKE FILMMAKERS SHORTS PROGRAM
Presented by WeMake Filmmakers
Friday, March 20, 7:30 PM, Tucker Theater, Free
Room 206 by Abigail Sheehan ’29
That's What Happened by Gabrielle Laitman ’29
Warfarin by Connor Murray ’28
New Roommate by Len Forrer ’27
Carpool by Tommy Manov ’26
Breaking and Entering by Reagan Pyle ’26
W&M SHORTS PROGRAM #2
Friday, March 20, 9:30 PM, PBK Hall Studio Theater, Free
Safe Ride presented by Larissa Kruesi ’12
Call Earl presented by Casey Lenhart ’22
Sorority Court presented by Emily Draper ’16
Little Spider’s Big Day in the City presented by Ted Hogeman ’09
Boxes and Elephants presented by Lauretta Prevost ’05
Modern Dating presented by Sophie Rush ’26
24 SPEED: ALUMNI FILMMAKING COMPETITION SCREENING
Saturday, March 21, 10:15 PM, PBK Hall Studio Theater, Free
Established in 2007, the annual 24 Speed Filmmaking Competition challenges participants to create a short film in 24 hours, including an assigned genre, prop, and line of dialogue. This screening features a showcase of the 2026 entries in the 24 Speed competition created by W&M alumni, culminating in an “awards ceremony” for the “top” films, including comments from “prestigious judges” and a completely legitimate Audience Award as voted on during the screening!