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This vérité documentary drops us in the middle of Liberty Square, one of the oldest public-housing projects in Florida. It's the heart of Liberty City, Miami, and, with developers hungry to construct new luxury apartments farther inland given rising ocean levels, the residents find themselves battling a government-backed revitalization project. Razing Liberty Square takes place over five years, beginning in 2017, and follows four main characters: Sam Kenley, a single mother of seven; school founder and principal Samantha Quarterman; Liberty City resident and development company insider Aaron McKinney; and internationally recognized climate justice activist Valencia Gunder. As their stories intersect and financial incentives are handed out to entice residents, this documentary captures the decimation of a community as a result of climate gentrification. With Liberty Square gone, there goes the neighbourhood. Samah Ali

On May 2, join us for a conversation on the affordable housing crisis and climate change with Valencia Gunder (The Smile Trust, The Black Collective) and How-Sen Chong (Toronto Environmental Alliance) at 6:30pm in the Blackhurst Cultural Centre.

Streaming online May 5-9. Streaming is only available in Canada.

Credits

  • Director(s)

    • Katja Esson
  • Producer(s)

    • Katja Esson
    • Ann Bennett
    • Corinna Sager
    • Ronald Baez
  • Executive Producer(s)

    • Grace Lee
    • Sumalee Montano
    • Sally Joe Fifer
    • Sheri Sobrato
    • Lisa and Matthew Sonsini
    • Anja Murmann
    • Sabine Schenk
    • Leslie Fields-Cruz
    • Jody Allen
    • Megan Gelstein
  • Editor(s)

    • Flávia de Souza
    • Susanne Schiebler
    • Leigh Johnson
  • Cinematography

    • Hector David Rosales
  • Composer

    • Gary Gunn
  • Sound

    • Ariel Novo
  • Visit the film's website

Promotional Partners

Community Partner: Regent Park Film Festival

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