DC Labor FilmFest SCREENINGS at the AFL-CIO, greenbelt theatre, new deal cafe, pickford theater, seekers church and IBEW 26 union hall
Organized and presented by the Metropolitan Washington Council of the AFL-CIO, the Debs-Jones-Douglass Institute and the AFI Silver, the 17th annual DC Labor FilmFest features a wide-ranging selection of films about work, workers and workers’ issues.
MILL STORIES: REMEMBERING SPARROWS POINT STEEL MILL
Thu, May 11, 12:00pm
LOVE AND SOLIDARITY
Thu, May 11, 7:00pm
SISTA IN THE BROTHERHOOD
Fri, May 12, 12:00pm
“RISING FROM THE RAILS” and “10,000 MEN NAMED GEORGE”
Sat, May 13, 12:00pm
QUEST
Mon, May 15, 7:00p
DREAM: AN AMERICAN STORY
Fri, May 19, 12:00pm
REVOLUTION: NEW ART FOR A NEW WORLD
Thursday, May 25, 8:00pm
DEATH BY DESIGN: THE DIRTY SECRET OF OUR DIGITAL ADDICTION
Fri, May 26, 12:00pm
See below for detailed film write-ups and trailers, dates, times and links to RSVP. These screenings are all FREE except as noted.
MILL STORIES: REMEMBERING SPARROWS POINT STEEL MILL
Thu, May 11, 12:00pm
LOVE AND SOLIDARITY
Thu, May 11, 7:00pm
SISTA IN THE BROTHERHOOD
Fri, May 12, 12:00pm
“RISING FROM THE RAILS” and “10,000 MEN NAMED GEORGE”
Sat, May 13, 12:00pm
QUEST
Mon, May 15, 7:00p
DREAM: AN AMERICAN STORY
Fri, May 19, 12:00pm
REVOLUTION: NEW ART FOR A NEW WORLD
Thursday, May 25, 8:00pm
DEATH BY DESIGN: THE DIRTY SECRET OF OUR DIGITAL ADDICTION
Fri, May 26, 12:00pm
See below for detailed film write-ups and trailers, dates, times and links to RSVP. These screenings are all FREE except as noted.
MILL STORIES: REMEMBERING SPARROWS POINT STEEL MILL
Thu, May 11, 12:00pm, Pickford Theater of the Library of Congress (3rd fl., Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC)
RSVP here
Co-sponsored by the Library of Congress Professional Guild AFSCME Local 2910 and the American Folklife Center.
Spotlights the memories and stories of former workers of the Sparrows Point Steel Mill in Baltimore. For 125 years, tens of thousands of steel workers and associated personnel have known the mill not only as a place of employment, but as the center of community life. In 2012, the mill was shuttered forever, devastating its workers – both active and retired – their families, and surrounding communities. As part of the larger Mill Stories project (millstories.org), the film aims to safeguard and promote the living cultural heritage of the mill, and to help amplify the voices of those who knew it best. The screening will be followed by a discussion with former Sparrows Point workers.
Co-directed by William Shewbridge and Michelle Stefano; 2016, 35m
RSVP here
Co-sponsored by the Library of Congress Professional Guild AFSCME Local 2910 and the American Folklife Center.
Spotlights the memories and stories of former workers of the Sparrows Point Steel Mill in Baltimore. For 125 years, tens of thousands of steel workers and associated personnel have known the mill not only as a place of employment, but as the center of community life. In 2012, the mill was shuttered forever, devastating its workers – both active and retired – their families, and surrounding communities. As part of the larger Mill Stories project (millstories.org), the film aims to safeguard and promote the living cultural heritage of the mill, and to help amplify the voices of those who knew it best. The screening will be followed by a discussion with former Sparrows Point workers.
Co-directed by William Shewbridge and Michelle Stefano; 2016, 35m
LOVE AND SOLIDARITY
Thu, May 11, 7pm, Seekers Church 276 Carroll St NW, Washington, DC 20012
FREE; RSVP here
Hosted by The Sacred Conversation on Race and Diversity
An inspiring exploration of nonviolence and organizing through the life and teachings of Rev. James Lawson. Lawson provided crucial strategic guidance while working with Martin Luther King, Jr., in southern freedom struggles and the Memphis sanitation strike of 1968. Moving to Los Angeles in 1974, Lawson continued his nonviolence organizing in multi-racial community and worker coalitions that have helped to remake the LA labor movement. Through interviews and historical documents, acclaimed labor and civil rights historian Michael Honey and award-winning filmmaker Errol Webber put Lawson’s discourse on nonviolent direct action on the front burner of today’s struggles against economic inequality, racism and violence, and for human rights, peace, and economic justice. Runtime: 38 minutes.
Watch trailer here
FREE; RSVP here
Hosted by The Sacred Conversation on Race and Diversity
An inspiring exploration of nonviolence and organizing through the life and teachings of Rev. James Lawson. Lawson provided crucial strategic guidance while working with Martin Luther King, Jr., in southern freedom struggles and the Memphis sanitation strike of 1968. Moving to Los Angeles in 1974, Lawson continued his nonviolence organizing in multi-racial community and worker coalitions that have helped to remake the LA labor movement. Through interviews and historical documents, acclaimed labor and civil rights historian Michael Honey and award-winning filmmaker Errol Webber put Lawson’s discourse on nonviolent direct action on the front burner of today’s struggles against economic inequality, racism and violence, and for human rights, peace, and economic justice. Runtime: 38 minutes.
Watch trailer here
SISTA IN THE BROTHERHOOD
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Fri, May 12, 12pm, AFL-CIO, 815 16th Street NW, Washington (FREE); RSVP here
Introduced by the Laborers’ Patti Edwards Devlin PLUS BONUS VIDEO: Chicago Women in Trades - We Heard the Call Explores race and gender in a male-dominated industry through the journey of a young black tradeswoman who faces discrimination on a new job site and must choose between making a stand or keeping her job. Winner of the Best Short Film and Best Oregon Short Film at the Portland International Film Festival. Post-film discussion with local tradeswomen. Dir. by Dawn Jones Redstone, starring Sidony O'Neal, 2015, US, 21m, English Watch the trailer here |
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“RISING FROM THE RAILS” and “10,000 MEN NAMED GEORGE”
Sat, May 13, IBEW 26 union hall, 4371 Parliament Place, Lanham, MD, MD 20706-1812
$15 (benefits A. Philip Randolph Institute DC chapter); includes refreshments
Click here for tickets
Rising from the Rails: The Story of the Pullman Porter
Chronicles the legacy of Pullman Porters, generations of African American men who served as caretakers to wealthy white passengers on luxury trains that traversed the nation in the golden age of rail travel. Based on the best-selling book by Larry Tye.
47min | Documentary | Video 11 February 2006
10,000 Black Men Named George
Union activist Asa Philip Randolph's efforts to organize the black porters of the Pullman Rail Company in 1920s America. Stars: Andre Braugher, Charles S. Dutton, Mario Van Peebles
R | 1h 35min | Drama | TV Movie 24 February 2002
$15 (benefits A. Philip Randolph Institute DC chapter); includes refreshments
Click here for tickets
Rising from the Rails: The Story of the Pullman Porter
Chronicles the legacy of Pullman Porters, generations of African American men who served as caretakers to wealthy white passengers on luxury trains that traversed the nation in the golden age of rail travel. Based on the best-selling book by Larry Tye.
47min | Documentary | Video 11 February 2006
10,000 Black Men Named George
Union activist Asa Philip Randolph's efforts to organize the black porters of the Pullman Rail Company in 1920s America. Stars: Andre Braugher, Charles S. Dutton, Mario Van Peebles
R | 1h 35min | Drama | TV Movie 24 February 2002
QUESt
Mon, May 15, 7:00pm, New Deal Café, 113 Centerway, Greenbelt, MD 20770, accessible by Metro Buses G12 & G16 from the Greenbelt Metro Station
FREE; RSVP here
An optional buffet dinner ($14) is offered at 6:30, half an hour before show time.
Hosted by the Prince Georges County Peace and Justice Coalition
Director Jonathan Olshefski follows the Raineys, a working-class Black family living in North Philadelphia, over the course of eight years. Christopher “Quest,” works a newspaper delivery route to support his recording studio while his wife works at a domestic violence shelter. Partway through “Quest” a stray bullet hits their daughter, PJ, blocks away from the basketball court where she plays every day, claiming her left eye. A beautiful and gently-paced depiction of race and class, “Quest” premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
Dir. Jonathan Olshefski, US, 2016, 105 min
FREE; RSVP here
An optional buffet dinner ($14) is offered at 6:30, half an hour before show time.
Hosted by the Prince Georges County Peace and Justice Coalition
Director Jonathan Olshefski follows the Raineys, a working-class Black family living in North Philadelphia, over the course of eight years. Christopher “Quest,” works a newspaper delivery route to support his recording studio while his wife works at a domestic violence shelter. Partway through “Quest” a stray bullet hits their daughter, PJ, blocks away from the basketball court where she plays every day, claiming her left eye. A beautiful and gently-paced depiction of race and class, “Quest” premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
Dir. Jonathan Olshefski, US, 2016, 105 min
DREAM: AN AMERICAN STORY
Fri, May 19, 12:00pm, AFL-CIO, 815 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20006
FREE; RSVP here
Alexandria-based filmmaker Aldo Bellow will present excerpts from his award-winning film, leading a discussion on DACA, how DREAMers organized politically to obtain DACA, and its future in this administration. The film follows Juan Gomez, who came to the United States from Colombia when he was 2 and grew up speaking English. His parents were seeking to escape Colombia’s civil war, but their application to remain in the United States was denied. They stayed anyway. Bello uses Gomez’s story to explore the activist movement of young undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers.
“These young people who were not fully citizens were participating in the political process,” Bello told The Washington Post. “They’ve been doing it despite all the odds. It’s been quite incredible to watch.”
Watch the trailer here
FREE; RSVP here
Alexandria-based filmmaker Aldo Bellow will present excerpts from his award-winning film, leading a discussion on DACA, how DREAMers organized politically to obtain DACA, and its future in this administration. The film follows Juan Gomez, who came to the United States from Colombia when he was 2 and grew up speaking English. His parents were seeking to escape Colombia’s civil war, but their application to remain in the United States was denied. They stayed anyway. Bello uses Gomez’s story to explore the activist movement of young undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers.
“These young people who were not fully citizens were participating in the political process,” Bello told The Washington Post. “They’ve been doing it despite all the odds. It’s been quite incredible to watch.”
Watch the trailer here
REVOLUTION: NEW ART FOR A NEW WORLD
Thurs, May 25, 8:00pm, Old Greenbelt Theatre, 129 Centerway, Greenbelt, MD 20770.
Adults: $9; Senior/Student/Military: $8; Members: $6.50; Kids: $6
ORDER TICKETS ONLINE HERE
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Margy Kinmonth, Revolution: New Art For A New World is a bold and exciting feature documentary that encapsulates a momentous period in the history of Russia and the Russian Avant-Garde. Drawing on the collections of major Russian institutions, contributions from contemporary artists, curators and performers and personal testimony from the descendants of those involved, the film brings the artists of the Russian Avant-Garde to life. Some of the works of art have been locked away for many years, so the documentary provides an exclusive look at works of Russian Avant-Garde art that many have never seen.
Click here to view the trailer.
Adults: $9; Senior/Student/Military: $8; Members: $6.50; Kids: $6
ORDER TICKETS ONLINE HERE
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Margy Kinmonth, Revolution: New Art For A New World is a bold and exciting feature documentary that encapsulates a momentous period in the history of Russia and the Russian Avant-Garde. Drawing on the collections of major Russian institutions, contributions from contemporary artists, curators and performers and personal testimony from the descendants of those involved, the film brings the artists of the Russian Avant-Garde to life. Some of the works of art have been locked away for many years, so the documentary provides an exclusive look at works of Russian Avant-Garde art that many have never seen.
Click here to view the trailer.
DEATH BY DESIGN: THE DIRTY SECRET OF OUR DIGITAL ADDICTION
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Fri, May 26, 12:00 pm, AFL-CIO, 815 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20006
FREE; RSVP here Consumers love – and live on – their smartphones, tablets and laptops. A cascade of new devices pours endlessly into the market, promising even better communication, non-stop entertainment and instant information. The numbers are staggering. By 2020, four billion people will have a personal computer. Five billion will own a mobile phone. But this revolution has a dark side, hidden from most consumers. In an investigation that spans the globe, filmmaker Sue Williams investigates the underbelly of the electronics industry and reveals how even the smallest devices have deadly environmental and health costs. From the intensely secretive factories in China, to a ravaged New York community and the high tech corridors of Silicon Valley, the film tells a story of environmental degradation, of health tragedies, and the fast approaching tipping point between consumerism and sustainability. Introduced by Cathy Feingold, International Director at the AFL-CIO, with Q&A after the film with special guests TBA. |
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