BBFF2025 Meet the Filmmakers: Alison Cornyn and Heather Greer
Hilda O. vs. The State of New York
Hilda O. vs. The State of New York tells the powerful story of 81-year-old Hilda Onley, who was incarcerated at 15 and abused at the NY State Training School for Girls in 1958. For decades, she was unable to seek justice - until the 2019 passage of New York’s Child Victims Act.
Co-directors Alison Cornyn and Heather Greer document Hilda’s fight to hold the state accountable, following her from deposition to court judgment. We spoke with them about how the film came to be, their creative process, and what Hilda’s story means today.
How did you discover Hilda’s story?
We’ve known Hilda for nine years, since she contacted Alison about her project Incorrigibles. Hilda had recently received her records from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and reached out after seeing our Incorrigibles website and project. From that first phone call, we were taken by her voice, her story, and her strength. After the first interview, it was clear that her story needed to be shared.
This year’s BBFF theme is ‘Visions in Motion’. How does your film connect with it?
The tagline “Love Film” resonates with us in its broadest interpretation. We love storytelling; we love the power of visual language; and we love the ways in which film allows audiences to enter into someone else’s story, to feel empathy, and to be moved. We feel that by bringing Hilda’s story to a wider audience, we are continuing the motion of visibility and the force of advocacy and change.
Have you always wanted to be a filmmaker, and what path brought you here?
IFor as long as we can remember, both of us have been interested in visual storytelling, justice, and the intersections of art and documentary. Both of us studied fine arts—Heather also studied journalism and photojournalism, and Alison came to documentary through photography and education. We both see documentary as a hybrid space where journalism, poetry, activism, and aesthetics can come together to engage audiences and encourage conversation and action.
What aspects of your filmmaking style can audiences expect to see here?
We were very intentional with our visual language in Hilda O. vs. The State of New York. We wanted the viewer to have a visceral experience of the passage of time and the cost of trauma, as well as the grace of Hilda’s presence. We used Super 8, VHS, DV, Hi-8, and 4K footage. We shot in facilities, homes, and landscapes to build an immersive experience. The film has a tactile quality, which is very intentional, and our sound design and score were also thoughtfully created to allow Hilda’s voice to shine through while guiding the viewer on this emotional journey.
What challenges did you face in making the film, and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge we faced was to distill such a complex and emotional story into a short film. It took nearly ten years to make, and we could have easily created a feature-length film. That said, we’re so pleased with the final cut. We feel it’s powerful, emotional, and deeply moving. Of course, financing is always a challenge, and we hope to continue raising funds for a broader impact campaign and screening tour in New York State and beyond.
What message or emotions do you hope your film conveys to the audience?
Our film is very much about time and the cost of systemic failure. We hope that audiences walk away with a deeper understanding of what justice looks like in its absence, what it costs to survive it, and what it means to continue to tell your story. Hilda says, “As long as I have breath, I will speak.” Our film is a testament to her breath and a way to honour and amplify it.