Screening Times: Friday, November 13 at 12:00 PM Wednesday, November 18 at 4:45 PM Thursday, November 19 at 11:35 AM
Invasion: The Unist’ot’en’s Fight for Sovereignty Directed by: Michael Toledano, Sam Vinal Synopsis: In this era of “reconciliation”, Indigenous land is still being taken at gunpoint. INVASION is verité cinematic experience about the Unist’ot’en Camp, Gidimt’en checkpoint and the larger Wet'suwet'en Nation standing up to the Canadian government and corporations who continue colonial violence against Indigenous peoples.
No Limits: Wheelchair Basketball in South Sudan Directed by: Leandro Badalotti Synopsis: Malat Wei was a young child when his family was forced to flee South Sudan, shortly after he contracted polio and lost the use of his legs. Though he grew up in an Ethiopian refugee camp, he fell in love with sports, spending his long days at the camp playing soccer with his able-bodied friends. Malat would use only his hands to navigate the dusty pitch. At age 12, his family was resettled as refugees in Texas where a few years later he was introduced to wheelchair basketball by a member of his church. He was immediately hooked. Now 25, he plays university-level wheelchair basketball in Arizona, after a successful stint playing professionally in France from 2015-2016. Jess Markt is from Denver, Colorado. At age 19, he was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Previously a college track-and-field star, wheelchair basketball was a major factor in Jess’ recovery, both physically and mentally. He now serves as the International Committee of the Red Cross’ (ICRC) Diversity, Inclusion and Sports Advisor and coaches disabled athletes in war zones, including Afghanistan, South Sudan and the Gaza Strip. Several years ago, Jess and Malat met at a tournament in New Mexico and their friendship was born. When Malat discovered that Jess was coaching in South Sudan, he pitched the idea of going with him to help coach athletes back in his home country. Last November, they did just that, fulfilling Malat’s dream of helping his fellow countrymen, by bringing the joy of wheelchair basketball to the newest country in the world. Atsuko’s Story Directed by: William Johnston-Carter Synopsis: The surprisingly funny coming-of-age story of one Japanese-American undocumented immigrant. When Atsuko Okatsuka was a child in Japan, she thought America was just a giant theme park. When she was 10, her family flew to the States for a "2 month vacation" and never left. They were undocumented, but nobody ever told Atsuko that. Growing up as an undocumented Japanese-American was confusing. There were exciting discoveries--like ranch dressing and basketball--but also a constant feeling of not belonging. Tragedy breeds comedy, and today Atsuko is a successful stand-up comedian, listed by Vulture magazine as a Comedian to Watch in 2018. Her story is a testament to the diversity of undocumented immigrants' experiences. We might not think of airplanes or ranch dressing when we think of undocumented immigration, but maybe we should. Ashes to Ashes Directed by: Taylor Rees, Renan Ozturk Synopsis: Winfred Rembert, the only living survivor of a lynching, a Star Wars fanatic and leather artist, develops a friendship with Doctor Shirley Jackson Whitaker who is on a mission to memorialize the forgotten 4,000 African Americans lynched during the Jim Crow era. Together, their journeys of healing intertwine. Love Nonnie Directed by: Lisa Addario Synopsis: This 106 year old woman became a viral sensation at 102. But we quickly see why she’s so much more than that.
