May 15, 2026 —Kendal at Oberlin, a senior living community in Oberlin, Ohio, is proud to announce the premiere of “Preservation Pictures,” a unique multigenerational documentary film project featuring several uplifting short films.
”Preservation Pictures” will debut at a special matinee on Saturday, May 16, at 11 A.M. at the historic Apollo Theater in Oberlin.
This heartwarming initiative brings together students from the Langston Middle School in Oberlin, Oberlin College film students and Kendal at Oberlin older adult residents, demonstrating the magic that happens when different generations unite to share their life experiences.
Watch the beautiful and inspiring movie trailer here.
Organized by GALPAL, the eight-week after-school program was designed to empower local youth through documentary filmmaking. Under the thoughtful guidance of Oberlin College Department of Cinema and Media students, the younger fourth- and fifth-grade students learned the intricacies of operating film equipment and the empathetic skill of conducting thoughtful interviews. They applied these new skills to capture the rich, diverse life stories of four Kendal at Oberlin residents.
Each person shared a deeply personal and unique narrative, from cross-country participation in the Great Peace March and a discovered packet of Civil War letters to the childhood curiosity of taking broken things apart to learn how to fix them.
These are just a few of the remarkable life experiences shared by the older adult residents of Kendal at Oberlin in “Preservation Pictures.”
The project highlights the immense value of intergenerational relationships, offering young students a meaningful opportunity to step outside their usual circles and connect with older adults. By listening to the lived experiences of Kendal at Oberlin residents, the students cultivated a deeper sense of empathy and discovered the shared values that connect us all, regardless of age.
Together, participants transformed from complete strangers to trusted collaborators, and from filmmakers to friends. It is a true testament to uniting generations through real, meaningful connections.
Michele Tarsitano-Amato, Director of Creative Arts Therapy at Kendal at Oberlin, shares, “This program taught middle-school students the technical art of filmmaking, all while working with college students to document the life stories of Kendal at Oberlin residents. This opportunity has provided a bridge between three distinct generations, who have learned that maybe they are not so different after all.”
Inspired by a successful model originally developed in Portland, Ore., GALPAL hopes the deeply moving Oberlin premiere will inspire other communities and Kendal Affiliates to embrace this collaborative project.
Together, these resulting films celebrate the beauty of lifelong learning and the power of storytelling to build a more inclusive, empowering and connected world.