Meaningful Movies: True Justice and Parkland Rising

TRUE JUSTICE: 6 P.M. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020

Release Year: 2019
Running Time: 56 minutes
Director: Peter Kunhardt, Teddy Kunhardt, George Kunhardt

Join Meaningful Movies and the Northwest African American Museum, Kunhardt Films, ACLU WA, and others for a screening and discussion of “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality.” The film follows 30 years of  Stevenson’s work on behalf of the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. Told primarily in his own words, “True Justice” shares Stevenson’s experience with a criminal justice system that “treats you better if you’re rich and guilty than if you’re poor and innocent.” The burden of facing this system is explored in candid interviews with associates at the Equal Justice Initiative, close family members, and clients.

This feature documentary focuses on Bryan Stevenson’s life and career—particularly his indictment of the U.S. criminal justice system for its role in codifying modern systemic racism—and tracks the intertwined histories of slavery, lynching, segregation and mass incarceration. The film also documents the monumental opening of EJI’s Legacy Museum and its National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which is dedicated to the more than 4,400 African American victims of lynching.

“True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” reveals a history that can’t be forgotten in the pursuit of genuine justice.

REGISTER HERE

We gratefully accept donations to help offset the costs of presenting the films we screen. After registering, you will receive a zoom link for the screening and panel discussion.

Special Guests: Northwest African American Museum, Kundhart Films, ACLU WA and others

MORE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: Parkland Rising, 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Directed by Emmy-winner Cheryl McDonough, “Parkland Rising” is an inspiring look at the students and parents who started an international movement to reduce gun violence. The film features David Hogg, Jaclyn Corin, Matt & Ryan Deitsch, Emma Gonzalez, Fred Guttenberg, Cameron Kasky, Patricia and Manuel Oliver. Register for this event HERE to receive a link to watch the film anytime on Sunday, November 1.  Then join us for a discussion at 6:00 PM. Hosted by: Everett and Gig Harbor Meaningful Movies

Meaningful Movies: Celebrate the 2020 Award Winners!

Release Year: 2020
Running Time: 1 hours
Director: Meaningful Movies Project

Our Annual Awards Celebration, 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, is our opportunity to say THANK YOU to all of the incredible people who make our work possible. We understand that our Meaningful Movies events could not happen without incredible filmmakers, films and partner organizations that work with us to support events! REGISTER HERE! Every person who tunes into the Awards Celebration will be entered to win a fabulous prize drawing the night of the event!

For those of you who are still learning about us – the Meaningful Movies Project is a network of volunteer-run neighborhood venues that are organizing, educating, and advocating for a more peaceful and just world by showing inspirational social justice documentaries followed by facilitated conversation and a call to action.

We understand that truth and community are fundamental building blocks of real democracy. By supporting independent media and fostering important conversations about social justice issues that are often ignored by mainstream media, we are helping to inspire families, friends, neighbors, and communities to work for the common good. By creating spaces – whether online or in person – where people can come to know each other, learn about pressing issues, and talk to one another about hard topics, we are helping to bridge divides, build community, build understanding, and find common cause.

This will be a fabulous evening of fun, entertainment and inspiration! Join us as we celebrate our 2020 award winners, watch film clips, and hear from awardees, venue leaders and our supporters! And… every person who tunes into the Awards Celebration will be entered to win a fabulous prize drawing the night of the event! Join us!!!

Please note that we are holding several online special events during October: this AWARDS CELEBRATION, an AUCTION and two FILM EVENTS: RESISTERHOOD and TRUE JUSTICE. We hope you can join us at one or all of these events, help financially support Meaningful Movies Project (MMP), and celebrate the great art of documentary filmmaking!

Special Guests: Filmmakers, venue leaders, partner organizations and YOU!

Also: Screening of UnRepresented, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27. “UnRepresented“ investigates the mechanisms that give political insiders enormous, unchecked power. If you are tired of the status quo, then join us for a virtual screening of this important new film and take part in a panel discussion following the movie to hear about grassroots movements taking shape to break this cycle. We will also discuss legislative efforts happening in Washington State. Register here to be part of the screening.

And: Screening of Resisterhood, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. This powerful documentary captures the stories of everyday Americans who became grassroots activists working tirelessly to defend our democracy and stop the erosion of our civil rights. “Resisterhood” showcases the wave that brought us the most ethnically, racially and gender diverse Congress in history. It shares stories of hope that will re-energize the movement and inspire even more people to join the fight to secure a bright future for our county. Register here to be part of the screening.

Meaningful Movies Social Justice Film Festival 2020

A rectangle featuring two boxes showing two images. In the left box, which has a white background, are two speech bubbles stylized to look like film strips, one in red and one in blue, with the words “Meaningful Movies Project” beside them. Beneath these words is the website address: www.meaningfulmovies.org. and “Social Documentary Film and Community Discussion. The right box is a mosaic of images showing people’s faces.

October 11-20, learn more at https://www.socialjusticefilmfestival.org.

Release Year: 2020
Running Time: 24 hours
Director: Many talented people!

Join filmmakers, film lovers, and activists around the world to celebrate the mission of social justice in film for the 9th Social Justice Film Festival, screening virtually from October 1-11, 2020. Featuring an exciting lineup of short and feature-length films to explore at your own pace, as well as filmmaker panels and discussions, tickets to the Social Justice Film Festival are available from Northwest Film Forum. For more information about the Social Festival Film Festival and Institute, and to buy tickets to this year’s event, visit www.socialjusticefilmfestival.org.  If you need a free scholarship ticket, please contact alanna@socialjusticefilmfestival.org 

This year, due to COVID-19, The Social Justice Film Festival is partnering with Meaningful Movies and Northwest Film Forum to present this year’s festival entirely online. Together, we will raise awareness, build community, and support the art of storytelling through films. The SJFFI also aims to support underrepresented filmmakers and provide a platform for unacknowledged stories.

Learn more at https://www.socialjusticefilmfestival.org

Meaningful Movies Social Justice Film Festival 2020

A rectangle featuring two boxes showing two images. In the left box, which has a white background, are two speech bubbles stylized to look like film strips, one in red and one in blue, with the words “Meaningful Movies Project” beside them. Beneath these words is the website address: www.meaningfulmovies.org. and “Social Documentary Film and Community Discussion. The right box is a mosaic of images showing people’s faces.

October 11-20, learn more at https://www.socialjusticefilmfestival.org.

Release Year: 2020
Running Time: 24 hours
Director: Many talented people!

Join filmmakers, film lovers, and activists around the world to celebrate the mission of social justice in film for the 9th Social Justice Film Festival, screening virtually from October 1-11, 2020. Featuring an exciting lineup of short and feature-length films to explore at your own pace, as well as filmmaker panels and discussions, tickets to the Social Justice Film Festival are available from Northwest Film Forum. For more information about the Social Festival Film Festival and Institute, and to buy tickets to this year’s event, visit www.socialjusticefilmfestival.org.  If you need a free scholarship ticket, please contact alanna@socialjusticefilmfestival.org 

This year, due to COVID-19, The Social Justice Film Festival is partnering with Meaningful Movies and Northwest Film Forum to present this year’s festival entirely online. Together, we will raise awareness, build community, and support the art of storytelling through films. The SJFFI also aims to support underrepresented filmmakers and provide a platform for unacknowledged stories.

Learn more at https://www.socialjusticefilmfestival.org

Meaningful Movies Virtual Screening & Discussion: Knock Down the House

A rectangle featuring two boxes showing two images. In the left box, which has a white background, are two speech bubbles stylized to look like film strips, one in red and one in blue, with the words “Meaningful Movies Project” beside them. Beneath these words is the website address: www.meaningfulmovies.org. and “Social Documentary Film and Community Discussion. The right box is a segment of a movie poster for the film “Knock Down the House, ” which features the picture of four women clustered together, all looking in different directions, with a faded image of the U.S. Capitol behind them on a blue background.

7 p.m. Thursday, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Release Year: 2019
Running Time: 86 minutes
Director: Rachel Lears

When tragedy struck her family in the midst of the financial crisis, Bronx-born Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had to work double shifts in a restaurant to save her home from foreclosure. After losing a loved one to a preventable medical condition, Amy Vilela didn’t know what to do with the anger she felt about America’s broken health care system. Cori Bush was drawn into the streets when the police shooting of an unarmed black man brought protests and tanks into her neighborhood. Paula Jean Swearengin was fed up with watching her friends and family suffer and die from the environmental effects of the coal industry.

At a moment of historic volatility in American politics, these four women decide to fight back, setting themselves on a journey that will change their lives and their country forever. Without political experience or corporate money, they build a movement of insurgent candidates challenging powerful incumbents in Congress. Their efforts result in a legendary upset.

The film is available through Netflix or on YouTube (https://youtu.be/YCSo2hZRcXk).  Please watch the film on your own, then join the panel discussion with Meaningful Movies in Kirkland on Thursday, September 17 at 7pm.

Special guest for the discussion is Shelley Kloba, Representative, 1st Legislative District.  

To register for the discussion, please follow this link.  You will receive a link to the discussion meeting by return email.

MORE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 17: Attla tells the gripping but virtually unknown story of George Attla, an Alaska Native dogsled racer who, with one good leg and one outlandish dream, dominated the sport for five decades, becoming a rockstar figure for both indigenous people and white people. REGISTER HERE: https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/5f4e7b45636c1c3a006490e3 
Release year: 2019. Running time: 57 minutes. Directors: Catharine Axleyf