Festival In-Cinema Program

Subjects: English, Politics, Law, World Issues, Challenge and Change, Gender Studies, Equity

After the United States and coalition troops announced they would withdraw their forces from Afghanistan in 2021, the subsequent collapse of the government and the rise of the Taliban have left the people of Afghanistan in fear of the future in a country that has suffered seemingly endless cycles of violence. Four extraordinary and brave women leaders, whose work in politics and social justice has already earned them international recognition, rise together, determined to fight for women’s rights under the new government. Fatima Gailani, Fawzia Koofi, Habiba Sarabi and Sharifa Zumati risk their lives and receive death threats, but even this will not stop them as they find their way to sit at the negotiating table with the Taliban to ensure justice for women. With remarkable access, this film by award-winning Afghan director Roya Sadat is a powerful example of advocacy, relentless leadership and courage in the fight for women’s rights—and of women supporting each other.

Subjects: Environmental Science, World Issues, Geography, Science, Social Studies, Language, English, Challenge and Change

Famed photographer James Balog returns to Iceland after 15 years to remove the last time-lapse camera that alerted the world to the melting glaciers in this portrait of the power of intergenerational relationships to inspire hope toward a sustainable future.

Following the screening of Chasing Time, we will be joined by members of the film team to talk about the global phenomenon and legacy of Chasing Ice (2012) and using art as a tool to combat climate change.

Subjects: Technology, Ethics, Science, World Issues, Media Studies, Business, Politics, English, Gender Studies, Equity

Can love last forever? Married for over forty years, Martine and Bina Rothblatt are deeply inspired by Octavia Butler’s book series Earthseed and her concept of “two bodies, one soul, forever in love.” As one of the world’s highest-paid female CEOs and founder of SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Martine is no stranger to reaching for the stars and has unlimited resources to make her bond with Bina everlasting. The Rothblatts commission Bina48, the first AI robot based on a living human being, using an “AI mindfile” of Bina’s consciousness. Housed inside a robotic bust, Bina48 represents the future and that future is Black and female (based on code written by white men). What does it mean when representation and code come from different sources? Love Machina asks big questions about essence and embodiment, gender and race, human connection and love, and places unexpected and much-needed emphasis on empathy, understanding and benevolence while exploring the future applications of cryopreservation, digital consciousness, xenotransplantation and space settlement.

Subjects: English, Language, Art, Politics, Law, World Issues, Challenge and Change, Gender Studies, Equity

Rachita Taneja, a political cartoonist working under the nom de plume Sanitary Panels, is the creator of a popular Indian stick-figure cartoon and webcomic that challenges stereotypes and taboos around menstruation, mental health and LGBTQIA+ rights. Taking her inspiration from news headlines, Taneja is known for pointed socio-political commentary and attracts an immense following of young, liberal Indians. But as critical journalists, and now cartoonists, face criminal charges under the Indian government’s new laws regulating fake news (i.e., real criticism), Taneja faces a charge of “diminishing the authority of the (Supreme) Court” in India. She cannot share or discuss the three cartoons involved in the lawsuit, but the rest of her comics come to life on-screen to promote her queer-positive, pro-democracy, anti-Modi and pro-gender-equality views. An impressive show of free speech using simple stick figures and a mere four panels provides a master class in fighting against censorship with bravery and creativity.

Subjects: Challenge and Change, Equity, Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology, English, World Issues, Law, History

The harrowing journeys of a generation of men continue as they endure years of isolated confinement in California’s prisons. The Strike delves deep into these men’s inner experiences, revealing the toll prolonged isolation has taken on their lives. Despite these challenges, they are showcasing their resilience by organizing the largest hunger strike in US history. Their protest is a direct challenge to the architects of the prison system and a passionate fight for their freedom. Highlighting the nature of human resilience and the unwavering persistence of the human spirit, even in the face of brutal suppression, this compelling narrative documentary sheds light on the untold stories of these institutions, prompting viewers to question the impact of solitary confinement and the power of collective action in seeking justice.

Subjects: Gender Studies, Physical Education, Human Development, Social Studies, English, Language, Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology, Civics and Citizenship

The 4KGIRL$ have a single goal: to become Canadian Junior Curling Champions. They know how it is to feel like underdogs but think this could be their year. With phones in one hand and brooms firmly in the other, teammates Hannah, Brooklyn, Savannah, Ashley and Amy are regular teenage besties living in suburban British Columbia who push their limits on and off the ice. Throwing rocks while updating their socials, they’re living under pressure that tests their self-confidence. Amid their rigorous training and competition schedule, with three of their moms (who are former Olympic curlers) as their coaches, they still face the familiar adolescent rites of passage like working part-time jobs, applying to college, and dating. Director Josephine Anderson crafts a thoughtful and captivating observational portrait about coming of age, friendship and overcoming adversity both in life and in a game of inches where every shot counts and sometimes things don’t go as planned.

Subjects: English, Language, Social Studies, Human Development, Environmental Studies, Geography

When a wild otter in desperate need of help washes up on his jetty in the remote Shetland Islands, Billy, his wife Susan, and their devoted sheepdog Jade accept a unique new member into their family. Billy is at a crossroads when he meets the otter he later names Molly: “Sometimes when you get everything you want, you convince yourself it’s everything you need. You convince yourself you’re happy...” She fills a need in him that he didn’t realize he had. So, while Billy is there for Molly, bringing her back from the brink by providing food and shelter, Molly is also there for Billy, waking something deep inside him that had gone dormant. Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story is a breathtakingly beautiful documentary, brimming with wonder, curiosity and joy, that shows how love can reawaken us to the power of acceptance (of ourselves and others) and the perfection of nature and life itself.

Subjects: Equity, World Issues, Challenge and Change, World Cultures, Language, ASL, Gender Studies, Politics, English

In a remote mountain range in Pakistan, Aniqa Bano gives birth to a deaf girl, Narjis. Suddenly, a world of stigma and prejudice is revealed, in which a raft of social obstacles need to be navigated. Nearly two decades later, Narjis reads her mother’s diaries and narrates a journey through the Baltistan region, where Aniqa has built a school and a home for deaf people. The fight for the rights of her own daughter is coupled with the fight for the rights of everyone in her community. Here, they not only receive education and respect but also discover a world of possibilities and rights to which they can aspire. Delicately explored and deftly crafted, Flying Hands is a story of commitment and how integration and equal opportunities for everyone directly benefit the co-existence of society.

Subjects: English, Language, Indigenous, Equity, Fashion, Media Arts, Physical Education, Canadian History, Law, Politics, Social Studies, Environmental Studies, Challenge and Change

Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond and Catherine Bainbridge (Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World) team up again for the follow-up to their award-winning documentary Reel Injun. Diamond travels to the corners of Turtle Island and across the Atlantic to dig into the world’s historical fascination with Indigenous Peoples. From fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi drawing inspiration from Nanook of the North to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School’s impact on the NFL, Diamond assembles a compelling collage packed with pop-culture references. Examples of appropriation are revisited by Indigenous scholars, artists and community members, who are revitalizing their cultures and dispelling the myths and lack of understanding that have persisted for more than a century. Clothing, sports, systems of government and agricultural practices all have clear lines to Indigenous ways of knowing and being. As a new generation of Indigenous Peoples draws strength from their ancestors and reclaims their rights, there’s hope for a future where credit is given where it’s due.