On the anniversary of the Glendale International Film Festival, writer, producer and director Faith Abraham was honored for her film “Wandering Room” dedicated to Rockhaven Sanitarium. “Wandering Room” is a period dramedy set in the hysteria crisis that plagued the turn of the last century. Abraham was nominated in the best experimental short category for the film. It follows Agnes Richards, the founder of Rockhaven, as a woman whose husband institutionalizes her. She arrives at a cold and clinical facility but, after reexamining her experiences, there may be more here to offer her. 

The comedic retelling of such a dark period of women’s history was inspired by the all-true story of Rockhaven, one of the first mental health facilities run entirely by women. Similarly, Abraham employed a completely female creative team. No small feat considering that of the 250 top grossing films in 2023, 83% had no female directors, 94% had no female cinematographers and only 4% employed 10 or more women in above-the-line positions, according to the 2024 Celluloid Ceiling report. 

While accepting her honor this year, Abraham shed a light on the women’s networking group she founded in 2022, Women Create, her collaborators on the film. But most importantly to her is that Rockhaven is on the National Register of Historic Places. Being one of only three women’s hospitals still standing from its time, she’s hoping her film will help the City of Glendale continue its partnership with the facility to rehabilitate the building and continue its storied legacy.