Students at Sonoma State often say there is nothing to do. We complain that our options feel limited to the same routines like hanging out on campus, driving somewhere for entertainment, or scrolling online. We say we want more events that matter, that feel connected to our generation and give us something real to talk about. But when those opportunities come our way, we usually let them pass by.
That is exactly what could happen with Christy, a new film starring Sydney Sweeney, screening Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Sebastiani Theatre.
Sweeney is already familiar to many of us from Euphoria, where she played a character that showed the struggles, confusion and pressure of being young in today’s world. In Christy, she steps into another role that explores questions of identity, self-worth and belonging. They are the very issues that so many students here at SSU face right now.
College is often described as a time of freedom but it is also when the pressure to figure things out feels overwhelming. We ask ourselves who we are becoming, how we measure success, and whether we fit into the paths that seem laid out for us. Watching a character wrestle with those same struggles on screen can be more than relatable. It can create space for reflection and conversations that do not usually happen in the middle of a busy semester.
That is why this screening is more than just a night at the movies. It is a chance to connect, not only with the story on screen but also with each other. Films that address real questions about identity and belonging can give us language for our own experiences.
SIFF, the Sonoma International Film Festival, is making that possible. While the organization is best known for its large festival every March that brings global attention to Sonoma, its monthly Tuesday screenings are designed to serve the local community. They want students involved. They want our perspectives in the room. They are about giving Sonoma a place to share stories, and we as students are part of that.
When we skip events like this, we send the message that students do not care about cultural opportunities in town. But when we show up, we prove the opposite. We show that we are interested, that we want art that challenges us, and that we want more than just the same routines.
Our attendance has power. It can shape what kinds of events are offered in the future.
The Sebastiani Theatre is also part of the experience. Watching a film there feels different from sitting in a regular movie theater. It is a historic shared space that adds weight to the moment and makes it memorable. To make the evening even more inviting, SIFF offers every guest a complimentary glass of wine before the screening, adding to the welcoming and social atmosphere!
We say we want more events that matter, but words alone are not enough. Christy offers us a chance to be part of something real.
