Lara St John’s documentary film wins award at Rome’s Cinema d’IDEA Festival

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Canadian violinist Lara St. John’s documentary film Dear Lara has won the Courage Award at Rome’s Cinema d’IDEA Festival. The documentary, which is produced by Patrick Hamm and marks St John’s directorial debut, confronts the subject of abuse, harassment and institutional failures in the classical music industry, based on her own experience of sexual abuse while she was a 14-year-old student at the Curtis Institute, as well as the testimony of others.

The jury of the Cinema d’IDEA women’s film festival, chaired by the Iranian director Azadeh Bizargiti, presented the Courage Award for Dear Lara describing it as an ’incredibly brave debut work’ and issuing the following citation:

‘The jury awards this prize to Dear Lara for its cinematic power and the bold, courageous way it tackles a delicate and urgent issue. Through precise storytelling and a cohesive structure, the documentary addresses sexual abuse and systemic failings within the classical music world, creating a deeply human and moving space through personal testimonies. By giving voice to survivors with clarity and respect, the film stands as a powerful, necessary work destined to leave a lasting impact. This is a major tribute to the director – in her debut feature – for having the courage to tell this story and share her own experience, thereby risking her career despite her fame.’

The documentary grew out of St. John’s personal experience at Curtis in 1985, when at the age of 14 she was repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped by her then 78-year-old teacher, Jascha Brodsky. After the Philadelphia Inquirer published her testimony in 2019, the Curtis Institute issued her with both a personal and public acknowledgement of her experience and an apology.