Our Power is Community
Inspiration from Camden Film Festival, Minorities in Film Manifesto. The Body Politic, Food and Country opening NYC and more
Community in Camden
I had the good fortune to attend one of my favorite film festivals - the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) two weeks ago and since then I’ve been wanting to write this post. But my company 8 Above is releasing The Body Politic this week in NYC and we are supporting the release of Food and Country also opening next week in NYC (more on both of these below) so I’m a bit behind.
Camden not only screens amazing films, hosts an incredible artist support organization, The Points North Institute, but what I love about CIFF the most is the beautiful sense of community it fosters. I got my first taste of this on my shuttle ride to the festival where I was able to meet Itzel Martínez del Cañizo the General Director of Ambulante and filmmaker Balint Revesz whose film Kix screened at the fest. I was excited to hear about the networks of theaters and community centers that Ambulante has been developing in Mexico for nearly 20 years and to learn that Balint developed a similar network in Hungary (more on both below). Both are driven to create community through the screening of important and challenging work - which otherwise would be algorithmed out by dominant platforms. That Balint was creating this network in the increasingly authoritarian state of Hungary was especially encouraging. I feel that one of the keys - if not the key to not just saving - but creating a vital sustainable film ecosystem (not to mention helping to preserve our democracy) is through the intentional building of community - not just our community of filmmakers - but communities made up of audiences and allies throughout the world. Many groups are doing this work and have been doing so for some time. Balint subsequently sent me two German groups who are laying the same groundwork. Itzel gave a presentation on behalf of Disco which is “a network of cultural organizations advocating for the unique importance of independent documentary to culture, society and democracy“ who also had a strong presence at Getting Real this year.
If you know of other organizations creating community screening networks throughout the world I would love to hear about them and spread the word. Unless this kind of list exists elsewhere, I am going to start a list of these organizations and networks in countries - so if you know of one - please share a link in the comments.
That this moment of transformation, connection and inspiration hit me - when I was still in the shuttle ride to CIFF says a lot. Right off the shuttle, I was able to engage in the VR experience In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats which brought me back to making Better Living Through Circuitry, going to raves on a weekly basis - infused with the power of in-person communal experiences. IPRB does a great job of approximating that experience while also drawing attention to the intentional government crackdowns on raves. I couldn’t help but be struck by the irony that this VR experience was a simulation in which I was experiencing that supposed communal experience by myself - without community - surrounded by technological ghosts in the machine.
That same night I was moved by friend and new Executive Director of the Points North Institute Elise McCave’s opening remarks and deeply moved by the opening statement by programmer Zaina Bseiso which CIFF published on their Instagram feed. Zaina spoke about the destruction of her family home in Gaza and the necessary power of documentary and journalism to expose the truth, document reality and ultimately, protect human lives in times of crisis. (see extract below).
What we are facing as a film community is a technological oligopoly that profits off isolating us into our own digital worlds, the community is dominated by platforms that exclude diverse voices, using predatory practices to grind out the possibility of independent voices and creators to survive. I will be writing more about this in the coming weeks/months.
At the Distribution Town Hall, Sahar Driver of Color Congress gave an impassioned call to action for our community to organize and create a lobby to protect and advance the creators and creations of our independent film sector. I am echoing that call here as well. (As did Ted Hope in his excellent related post here.)
It is time for our brilliant, creative and resourceful community to mobilize and chart the future for independent film, to advance opportunities for filmmakers and foster a way for audiences to engage in a wide diversity of perspectives. It will only be through communal action as a field that we can succeed against the vast resources of the corporations who have so quickly absorbed and flattened our culture.
Minorities in Film Manifesto
I love a manifesto and after Camden I got to sit down with the founder of Minorities in Film Brittany Franklin (right) and Jordan St. James the Creative Director of Make News (left) who in the photo are holding a copy of their newspaper! Make News. I love that they created a physical newspaper - as they said: “What is the least expected thing that Millennials and Gen Z will expect - a newspaper.”
However within the pages of the newspaper they wrote a compelling manifesto accompanied by a short film they posted on Linked In. They gave me permission to publish their written manifesto here:
“IN ANY GIVEN BLOCK OF ANY CITY THERE ARE TRILLIONS OF STORIES TO BE TOLD. AND BILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE READY TO HEAR THEM.
SO WHY ARE WE BEING FED THE SAME SHOWS
ON REPEAT AND COPY-PASTE FRANCHISE FILMS? WE'RE TIRED OF THE WATERED DOWN, ARTIFICIAL NARRATIVES DOLED OUT LIKE FAST FASHION MADE IN A SWEATSHOP.
THOSE STORIES DON'T "DEFINE THE CULTURE". WE DO.
SO JUST LIKE HOLLYWOOD MISSES THE POINT OF DIVERSITY, THEY CAN MISS US WITH THAT LAZY BRAND OF STORYTELLING.
OUR HANDS AND HEARTS ARE OVERFLOWING WITH SO MUCH CREATIVITY, THAT IT'S TIME TO FILL THE STREETS WITH STORIES FROM US, NOT JUST FOR US.
FILMS AND SHOWS MADE BY ARTISTS LIKE ME. AND YOU”
MIF, a collective for people with disabilities and people of color in film and media, also just launched a community based showcase of short films from underrepresented filmmakers which they intend to expand in the coming years.
The Body Politic Theatrical Premiere with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott
We’re proud to be handling the theatrical release for the award-winning documentary The Body Politic. Join the filmmaker, Gabriel and Mayor Brandon Scott this weekend in New York City for the US theatrical premiere of the film at DCTV’s FIREHOUSE CINEMA from Sept 27 – Oct 3. I’ll be at the Friday night screening (which is sold out already). Not to be a broken record but I feel it is essential to engage with films in community to experience their full power.
"The Body Politic" follows Brandon Scott, the young mayor of Baltimore, as he enlists the power of community as an alternative to traditional policing to reduce gun violence in Baltimore.
Filmmakers and film participants will be on hand for 8 post-screening Q&As @dctvny Check out the timings and get your tickets here.
Food and Country Theatrical Release with Food Writer and Advocate Ruth Reichl
8 Above is supporting the release next week of Food and Country which explores the precarious state of America's food system. I’m a super fan of director Laura Gabbert - she and renowned food critic, Ruth Reichl, reveal the challenges farmers, ranchers and chefs face in producing sustainable, high-quality food. One of these challenges is monopolistic practices by large conglomerates that control the vast majority of our food system and how farmers, ranchers and chefs are working to combat this.
Food and Country premieres in NY next Wednesday, Oct 2nd, at the IFC Center. Come and meet Laura and Ruth, (and I’ll be there!) Check out this link for timing and tickets.
From Zaina’s Remarks at CIFF
Here is a long excerpt from Zaina’s remarks at CIFF:
“I think of every journalist we lost this year and those still risking their life to relay their urgent images to us from Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Kashmir, Ukraine, Haiti and the endless territories being subjected to unspeakable violences that robs them of their beauty, their soft power and potentiality. I think of the repetition of certain images in this year’s program. There is power in this repetition. It portrays the common gestures of indigenous resistance on this continent and in Palestine, both confronting power and both protecting their land from with their own bare bodies.
As we engage with these films showing over the course of this weekend, in the company of the friends we love, I hope we continue asking ourselves this necessary question:
What do we owe the messengers of the urgent image?
What do we owe the people who have put their lives, futures and the hearts of their loved ones at stake to bring us knowledge?"
No Film School Podcast - Why Indie Film Distribution is About To Go Punk Rock
I am on the latest No Film School podcast: “Why Indie Film Distribution Is About To Go Punk Rock” with the appropriate subtitle “Independent film has to stop calling this self-distribution. It’s distribution, period." (per this Substack here). With me was No Film School’s GG Hawkins, sales agent Glen Reynolds and filmmakers Annamaria Sofillas and Scott Monahan.
More on Ambulante
Ambulante is a Mexican documentary film initiative that aims to cultivate audiences and foster meaningful dialogue. Through screenings in 24 states and 65 venues, they've conducted over 900 screenings of 24 feature films, expanding access to documentary cinema and providing training for new exhibitors in both urban and rural communities.
Back up material:
More on Kontra
https://www.instagram.com/kontrafilms/
KONTRA, a Hungarian film distributor, is dedicated to bringing independent and thought-provoking films to audiences. They focus on films that tackle important social and environmental issues, often overlooked by mainstream distribution. Through pop-up events in unique venues, KONTRA creates a community around cinema, fostering meaningful discussions and celebrating freedom of expression. They offer a "safe cinema experience" that goes beyond the traditional movie theater, combining screenings with art exhibits, discussions, and live music.
Thanks for the shout out Jon. Keep up the good work!