Dear Ms: A Revolution in Print, Interview with Directors Salima Koroma, Alice Gu & Cecilia Aldarondo
An interview with Directors Salima Koroma, Alice Gu & Cecilia Aldarondo
Interview by Mercedes Gonazales Bazan
Dear Ms: A Revolution in Print is a powerful new documentary that explores the history, impact, and contradictions of Ms. Magazine, a trailblazing feminist publication founded in 1971. Directed by Selma Koma, Alice Goo, and Cecilia Alderando, the film premiered at Tribeca Film Festival to an electrified audience.
The Light Leaks sat down with the three directors to discuss the film’s debut, the legacy of Ms., and their advice for women and non-binary filmmakers.
What was it like to premiere Dear Ms at Tribeca and witness the audience's response?
Selma Koma: “I will say it was bananas. I knew it was going to be complex because we were three different projects with three different teams. From a scale perspective, it was kind of a lot, but the passion and intensity—there was like a fever on the red carpet. People just seemed to really crave the film. It was very exciting and a little bit nuts.”
Alice Goo: “Meeting people who used to read the magazine back in the day—for me, that was fantastic. I actually thought people weren’t going to want to hear about feminism, but they really loved it.”
Cecilia Alderando: “It was electrifying to celebrate with these women. Afterwards, people came up in tears saying the film resonated with them. As an artist, it’s so life-affirming to hear that your work connects with people.”
How did each of you become involved in this project?
Selma Koma: “McGee Media, who had worked on Makers, reached out to all of us individually. The challenge was figuring out how we were going to tell this story—chronologically or collaboratively. In the end, we each chose the covers and topics we wanted to explore and created three mini-films that were separate but connected. It was really cool and something I’d never done before.”
Cecilia, as a professor, how does your academic work influence your filmmaking?
Cecilia Alderando: “It’s a total symbiosis. I get ideas for my classes from the films I make, and I get ideas for films by watching and discussing them with my students. A classroom is like a great exercise in empathy and brainstorming. It can be crazy to juggle two careers, but they really inform each other.”
Alice Goo: “Cecilia is a gender studies researcher—it’s an understatement to say she pulls from that work! I’ve learned a lot from how she and Selma think about and envision things.”
Selma, your past work explores neglected histories, like your documentary on Black Wall Street. How did that perspective shape Dear Ms?
Selma Koma: “I’ve always been interested in history that’s whitewashed or overlooked. Going into Dear Ms, it was powerful to talk about feminism from a Black perspective. I took a class on Black feminist thought that changed my life—it gave me language like intersectionality. Being able to tell this story and speak with women who had those experiences before me was incredible.”
Alice, how did your background as a cinematographer influence your directing on this project?
Alice Goo: “I’m usually a very visual director, but this film was so archival-heavy. My DP instincts influenced how I chose and combined archival material, the graphic treatments, and titles. There wasn’t as much live-action shooting, but the visual language still guided the storytelling.”
Had you all read or heard of Ms. Magazine before making this film?
Cecilia Alderando: “I had. I have a gender studies master’s degree, and Ms. is like Feminism 101. But I’m proud that our film is hopefully bringing Ms. back into the zeitgeist.”
Selma Koma: “I hadn’t heard of it, but when I told my mom about the project, she immediately knew it. She said Ms. Magazine was everywhere when she lived in Chicago. That connection really hit home for me.”
Alice Goo: “I was familiar with it peripherally. It wasn’t in my household growing up, but I knew about it.”
What role do you think this documentary plays in preserving or reviving feminist media?
Cecilia Alderando: “I don’t think it’s just about preserving—it’s about reactivating feminist media. We’re seeing attacks on women’s rights across the board. I hope this film inspires younger generations to keep building community and carrying the conversation forward.”
Alice Goo: “I hope younger women see this film and realize how different life was just 50 years ago. It’s important to understand where we came from so we don’t go back.”
Did you learn anything new or surprising about Ms. Magazine during the process?
Alice Goo: “The magazine literally coined terms like ‘sexual harassment.’ Gloria Steinem says in the film, ‘Ten years ago, this was just called life.’ That blew my mind. And it shocked me that federal legislation against domestic violence only passed in 1994. That’s so recent.”
Selma Koma: “I spoke with writer Michelle Wallace, who said she was asked to take out her braids for her Ms. cover shoot to look more ‘palatable.’ That was something she didn’t face with Essence. It reminded me how representation still matters, even now.”
What advice would you give to women and non-binary documentary filmmakers?
Alice Goo: “You’re only as strong as your team. Don’t climb over your peers—join forces with them.”
Cecilia Alderando: “You have to love it. You’re going to live and breathe your project, so follow your instincts with full tenacity.”
Selma Koma: “Care deeply about your stories. I could talk about Black feminism all day—that passion is what carries you through the hard work.”
Any final thoughts on the legacy of Ms. and why this film matters now?
Selma Koma: “Women are more vulnerable than ever, but Ms. was a community-building magazine that made women feel less alone. That solidarity is what we need to hold on to.”
