The eighth annual Red Deer Justice Film Festival will host 10 documentary films Jan. 22nd-23rd at the Red Deer College Margaret Parsons Theatre.
Admission is free; seating tickets will be available at the door on a first come, first served basis.
Event planners say these powerful stories will foster awareness of injustices and indignities suffered around the world and promote an understanding of what is possible when positive actions are taken, big or small.
Each film will also be followed by a post-film discussion and the opportunity to connect with a variety of associated organizations that will have their displays in the NGO village.
The Hearts of Women have once again taken on the organizing of the film festival as part of their own desire to advocate the understanding of social justice issues in a way that may inspire taking responsibility and positive action.
Things kick off Friday night with The Human Scale at 6 p.m. and Racing to Zero: In Pursuit of Zero Waste at 8:15 p.m.
Directed by Christopher Beaver, Racing to Zero: In Pursuit of Zero Waste is about how the simple substitution of the word ‘resource’ for the word ‘garbage’ transformed a culture, produced a wealth of new industries and revealed an intriguing and surprising race to zero.
Saturday morning highlights include the African Grandmothers Tribunal at 11 a.m. followed by (Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies, directed by Yael Melamede, at 12:30 p.m.
(Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies is described as a comical and light-hearted film that follows award winning behavioral scientist Dan Ariely as he strives to understand the reasons behind our deceiving behavior and the implications of our dishonesty.
In the Shadow of War will be screened at 2:15 p.m. followed by Not Without Us at 4:15 p.m.
Not Without Us is described as a thought-provoking and emotionally stirring film that examines what happens when a group of individuals with mental illness, often portrayed as a problem to be solved by society, bands together to stand up for their rights by redefining the nature of the problem and reclaiming their status as integral members of society.
Directed by Sam Avery, the film is also making its Canadian premiere.
In a highly disturbing investigation of the organ harvesting trade in China, Nobel Peace Prize nominees David Matas and David Kilgour uncover one of the world’s worst crimes against humanity in the film Human Harvest which was directed by Leon Lee. Human Harvest will be featured at 5:15 p.m.
That Sugar Film hits the screen at 7 p.m. and rounding out the day will be IMBA Means Sing at 8:45 p.m. Audiences can follow Angel, Moses and Nina from the slums of Kampala, Uganda through a world tour with the Grammy-nominated African Children’s Choir.
Directed by Danielle Bernstein, IMBA Means Sing is a intimate story of resilience and the impact of education.
For more information, visit www.justicefilmfestival.ca.
– Weber
