Laurie's Bio

Being raised in a basement has predisposed me to dark, warm and close-in environments. And the duality of the anonymity that theatre darkness provides, and the emotional connectedness that comes from viewing excellent films in a crowd is a paradox that attracts this psychologically trained clinician.

I started attending SIFF after college, going to films up until midnight then crawling to work the next day. In recent years I have volunteered and particularly enjoy the galas and those opportunities to see revered screen hunks, up close and tipsy at SIFF parties. I look forward to this event all year, and currently use it to balance my ultra left-brained work life(tech). It reminds me what is real.

Since I have worked in advocacy for decades, initially through my therapeutic work with survivors of extreme trauma and more recently through corporate reformation, and civil rights protection (privacy issues, & supporting the rights of minors), art that represents real issues means a great deal to me. I love the opportunity to see works from all over the globe, which carry a message about human rights issues and political/social realities.