‘Dear Lara’ premieres at SBIFF, exposing sexual abuse and institutional silence in the Classical Music world

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Premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Dear Lara is already positioning itself as one of the most urgent and emotionally devastating documentaries of the year. Directed by world-renowned Canadian violinist Lara St John, the powerful social justice film made its debut, followed by a post-screening panel Q&A featuring St John and several of the film’s courageous subjects.

Dear Lara marks St John’s directorial debut and pulls no punches. The deeply personal documentary exposes decades of sexual abuse and systemic complicity within the Classical Music world—institutions built on prestige, silence and the protection of power. The film begins in 2019, when St John publicly revealed the sexual assault she endured at age fourteen whilst studying at Philadelphia’s elite Curtis Institute. What followed was an outpouring of letters from fellow survivors, igniting a journey across North America and Europe to amplify voices long ignored.

Shot by St John alongside acclaimed cinematographer Patrick Hamm (PBS POV’s ‘Who I Am Not’), the film blends unflinching survivor testimony, investigative reporting and a haunting original score composed by St John herself. As stories accumulate, a chilling pattern emerges: Predators shielded, victims sidelined, and reputations prioritised over justice.

Produced by Hamm with Christie Herring, consulting producer Christy McGill and executive producer Stephen H Judson, ‘Dear Lara’ features voices from across the music and advocacy landscape, including Katherine Needleman, Anne Midgette, Marci Hamilton of Child USA and investigative journalist Sammy Sussman. Blood Sweat Honey is handling sales.

In conclusion, this is not just a film—it’s a call to action. Dear Lara demands accountability from institutions that have failed for far too long, and refuses to let silence be the final note.

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