MSP Film Society Announces Anti-Racism Series
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 10:46AMVia a June 23 News release from MSP Film Society:
MSP Film Society announces the launch of We the People: Required Watching, an ongoing screening series of films that speak powerfully to systemic inequality, followed by conversations with filmmakers and community leaders discussing ways we can support social justice and anti-racism efforts within our communities.
MSP Film Society kicks off We the People: Required Watching on Sunday, June 28 with an encore screening of the MSPIFF39 Redefined closing night film, Women in Blue. The film will be available to screen for free for a 24-hour window on beginning at 11am on Sunday, June 28 at MSPfilm.org. On Monday, June 29 at 7:00pm, MSP Film Programmer Craig Laurence Rice will moderate a discussion with Director Deirdre Fishel, Minneapolis City Council Member Alondra Cano, Civil Rights Attorney and Activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, and former Minneapolis City Council Member Ralph Remington about the ongoing efforts of police reform and women's roles in leadership and community safety.
Directed by Dierdre Fishel, USA, 2002, Documentary
Offering an unprecedented view into the inner workings of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), Women in Blue chronicles a police force—and a community—grappling with racism and a troubled history of police misconduct long before an MPD officer killed George Floyd in May of 2020. The film reveals the limitations of police reform through incremental change and asks questions that apply well beyond the city of Minneapolis: Could increased gender equity and more women—especially women of color—contribute to greater public safety?
MSP Film Society continues the We the People: Required Watching series on Sunday, July 5 with a free screening of Ava DuVernay’s groundbreaking documentary 13th. On Monday, July 6 at 7:00pm, MSP Film Programmer Craig Laurence Rice will present another community-focused conversation that explores the themes of the film and how we can collectively move forward toward a more just and inclusive society.
Directed by Ava DuVernay, USA, 2016, Documentary
The title of Ava DuVernay’s extraordinary and galvanizing documentary refers to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.” The progression from that second qualifying clause to the horrors of mass criminalization and the sprawling American prison industry is laid out by DuVernay with bracing lucidity.
In early June, MSP Film Society partnered with the Knight Foundation, O Cinema, Magnolia Pictures, and FilmNorth in presenting free screenings of remarkable films that directly address issues that we are grappling with today: I Am Not Your Negro, Whose Streets? and Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am. Following each of these screenings, MSP Film Society Programmer Craig Laurence Rice hosted conversations with community leaders to discuss ways we all can support social justice and anti-racism efforts in our community. As attendance for these screenings, and especially the community conversations grew, MSP Film Society received continuous feedback from both our community and around the country about the value of these conversations, and immediately endeavored to make this an ongoing series.
“MSP Film Society has long recognized the power of cinema, and the discourse it sparks, to confront the most difficult issues in society,” said Susan Smoluchowski, Executive Director of the MSP Film Society. “Through critical conversations inspired by each of these Knight screenings, we found a potent way to fulfill our mission and serve our community in a time of need. We are grateful for our partnership with FilmNorth, O-Cinema, the Knight Foundation, and now the George Family Foundation for its generous support, making it possible for us to present We The People: Required Watching as an ongoing series of free screenings of topical, discussion-worthy films, followed by engaging, relevant conversations designed to challenge our assumptions and provide new insight.”
The films presented in this series have been chosen for their focus on the most pressing issues affecting our community, country and world, and because they speak powerfully to systemic inequality and serve as blueprints for affecting change.
“The motive for the conversations that follow the free screenings of these significant films is to bring a real, honest, and meaningful voice to the issues of inequity, race and racism, and its historical and current poisonous effects on the USA,” said Craig Laurence Rice, MSP Film Society Programmer. “I hope this offering is a positive addition to the viewing experience.”
MSP Film Society intends to make We the People: Required Watching an ongoing film and conversation series, and will announce additional events as they are confirmed. Moving forward, the films will be made available to view for free through MSPfilm.org for a 24-48 hour window and the Community Conversations that follow on Monday evenings at 7pm will be presented via Zoom. They will also be available for later viewing on MSP Film Society’s Facebook page. Further program information, including registration info, can be found on MSPfilm.org.
The MSP Film Society is a dynamic 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to fostering a knowledgeable and vibrant appreciation of the art of film and its power to inform and transform individuals and communities.
