Endicott digital film major Samantha LaCorcia ’27 was named runner-up at the 2026 Massachusetts Production Coalition (MPC) Student Media Summit for her documentary pitch exploring the experiences of women living with endometriosis.
Held at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the event welcomed students from 14 regional film and TV programs, including Emerson College, Boston University, Northeastern University, and more.
The summit events included a career panel with recent college grads in the industry, a lunch with fellow filmmakers and crew, and a Pitch Fest, where LaCorcia had two minutes to pitch a short film to a panel of industry professionals, receive feedback, and compete for cash prizes.
LaCorcia’s film, her senior thesis project, explores the experiences of those close to her who are living with the illness. Through their stories, she hopes to raise awareness of the often misunderstood condition and highlight the challenges of receiving a diagnosis and accessing treatment.
“Since choosing my major, I knew I wanted my thesis to be a documentary. For a chronic illness that is so prevalent that one in ten women suffer from it, there is not enough attention or digital media addressing it,” said LaCorcia, who received a $500 cash award, which she will use to help cover production costs. She hopes to start filming as soon as she returns from winter break.
“My jaw dropped when I heard my name. I was really grateful to be selected to give a pitch in the first place, and was really proud to represent Endicott. My digital media professors have been my biggest supporters throughout my entire time here and are already helping me take the steps to set me up for the most success in directing a documentary,” said LaCorcia.