College of Arts and Sciences

10-Year Film Event

Honoring Our Veterans: Celebration & Commemoration

On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, Western Illinois University will host a program to honor veterans and celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Interdisciplinary Film Minor.

Chicago writer-director Lucia Mauro to screen and discuss In My Brother’s Shoes and composer and pianist Enzo De Rosa to perform live music from Italian films.

Film Minor 10-year Anniversary Reception

Before the concert and screening event, there will be a reception in WIU's University Union Sandburg Lounge starting at 6:00pm to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Interdisciplinary Film Minor! The reception will include food, drinks, introductions, and mingling.

Honoring Our Veterans: Special Screening and Concert

Dr. Roberta Di Carmine, Professor of Film and Faculty Advisor of the Interdisciplinary Film Minor, and Dr. Mark Mossman, Chair of English Department, will introduce the event which also celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the Interdisciplinary Film Minor.

Before the screening, Enzo De Rosa will perform live a concert of music from Italian films. At the end of the program, there will be a Q&A with Lucia Mauro and Enzo De Rosa.

The film commemorates the life and sacrifice of a fallen Marine, whose brother puts on his combat boots to take a pilgrimage to Rome to process his grief.

In My Brother’s Shoes has been screened at American colleges, educational institutes, and military associations and presented at several international film festivals such as Cannes and winning the Best Short Film Award at the International Catholic Film Festival in the Vatican.

About the Director

Before becoming a director, Lucia Mauro was a theater critic and an arts and culture writer. She collaborated with the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Public Radio, and In Theatre Magazine. In My Brother’s Shoes released in 2014 marks her directorial debut. Mauro’s second film, One Year Later, centered on a cancer survivor who takes a trip to the Italian Alps to rediscover herself. Her third film currently in post-production is entitled Frances Xavier Cabrini: The People’s Saint, in honor of the first American citizen saint’s 100th anniversary.

About the Composer

Born in Italy, Enzo De Rosa is an internationally known musician, pianist and composer. He has worked on more than 600 productions for film, Italian television and Radio, international television, theater and opera. He has studied with musicians such as Tita Parisi in Naples, A Ciccolini at the Accademia Nazionale di Biella, J. Swann and B. Petrushansky at the Accademia Pianistica of Imola. He studied composition and film music with L. Bacalov and F. Mannino. He taugh at the Conservatory of Music in Benevento, Italy, until 2013. He lives and works in Montreal, Canada.


 The itinerary is as follows:

  1. Reception starts at 6:00pm in Sandburg Lounge
  2. After the reception, we will travel to the Sandburg Theater and begin the film event.
    1. Program introductions by Dr. Mark Mossman and Dr. Roberta Di Carmine
    2. 30 minute concert by composer Enzo De Rosa
    3. Filmmaker Lucia Mauro will introduce her short film & screen it
    4. Q&A with filmmaker and composer

For more information on both of these events please contact Dr. Roberta Di Carmine at r-dicarmine@wiu.edu.

If possible, RSVP on the English Department's Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/527452467597393/

This event is cosponsored by:

  • Interdisciplinary Film Minor
  • Film Club (Council on Student Activity Funds)
  • Foundation Veterans Fund and Veterans Resource Center (Council on Student Activity Funds)
  • Casa Latina
  • College of Arts and Science and College of Fine Arts
  • Departments of Broadcasting and Journalism, English, History, Music, and Political Science
  • Distant Learning, International Studies and Outreach
  • University Counseling Center