It’s the launch of the fourth season of the PBS documentary film series Independent Lens‘s “Community Cinema” program, which showcases the year’s program of thought-provoking, socially-conscious movies and follows them up with expert-lead public discussions in 50 cities throughout the US.
The “community” name is a bit misleading; the films shown are the same international fare broadcast nationally, screened in public venues one month in advance of their televised premiers. This year’s program includes works set in Iran, Kenya, Los Angeles and U.S. military bases, presented with the intention of bringing together local voices in national and global discussions of race, violence, political dissent, gender inequality, and a host of other issues.
Tonight’s premier, Chicago 10, couldn’t be a better fit for the program’s mission. From filmmaker Brett Morgan, it is a partially animated recounting of the 1969 conspiracy trial of the titular community activists, highlighting the ways the event turned a Chicago courtroom into a “farcical and tragic” enactment of a country’s — and world’s — political psyche.
In Philadelphia the program begins at 6 o’clock at the WHYY Civic Space, 150 N. 16th Street. Co-presented with Scribe Video Center, Black Youth Vote, and Bread and Roses Community Fund, the talk following the screening will focus on youth movements and political participation in the city since 1968. It’s free!
For more information, and to see if your city is involved in the Community Cinema program, visit: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/getinvolved
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