WILLIAMSBURG — William & Mary Alum Emily Draper will bring her film, “Sorority Court,” to the Richmond International Film Festival later this month.
Draper, a self-taught filmmaker, wanted to create a film based on her experiences in a sorority.
“I have never seen my sorority experience depicted accurately in media. The truth is, I met a lot of really, really cool women during my sorority time. There are absolutely conflicts, there are absolutely conflicts like the one in this film, but I also met women who are so dynamic and interesting and funny, and I’ve never seen that in media, and I knew that this was a gap in the sorority flick market that I wanted to fill,” Draper said.
“Sorority Court” follows the story of Katie, Gamma Gamma Delta’s disgraced former president, as she defends herself before her sisters when she’s accused of stealing from the chapter house. As Katie struggles to get her alibi straight, her legacy in the chapter, her relationship with her best friend Aminah, and her ability to graduate are all in jeopardy.
“It’s a comedy, crime drama that takes place in a sorority executive board. There is the mystery to be solved, somebody has stolen a bunch of tiny little objects from the chapter house and the chapter’s former president is the main suspect. It’s her story of her alibi, how she pins it on someone else, and how justice is served or not served,” Draper says of the film.
The film stars Sarah Coffey, Kuhoo Verma, Mia Rose Kavensky, Carolyn Kang and Lori Laing. It is Draper’s directional debut.
Draper says that she is excited to bring the film back to the area.
“It’s a real special privilege. Going to college at William & Mary, I always thought Richmond was the coolest town and I honestly still think that. It means a lot to me to be able to bring it to a group of people who made the film possible,” Draper said.
Draper hopes those who watch the film come away with a different view of the justice system.
“The message I want people to walk away with is that sometimes systems of justice fail, but just because the justice system failed doesn’t mean that accountability doesn’t come in one way or another,” Draper says.
After the screening, Draper will participate in a Q&A with other Virginia directors. Both the screening and Q&A are open to festival ticket holders. Tickets for Draper’s screening on Sept. 25 at the Richmond International Film Festival are on sale through the festival’s website.