Cinematters: NY Social Justice Film Festival
Jan 16-20, 2020
The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
From Thursday, January 16th to the 20th, 2020, Cinematters: NY Social Justice Film Festival will be held at The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (which is also its primary sponsor). It offers films which address timely social issues including racial discrimination, LGTBQIA rights, environmental and water justice, immigrant rights and religious intolerance. Coinciding with the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the festival’s films, special events, and conversations are all meant to inspire audiences to take action in the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy. The festival’s goal is to promote social action that leads to positive change in the world at large. JCC’s Carole Zabar Film Center senior director Isaac Zablocki noted, “We selected films for the festival which touch on some of the most important topics that are relevant to our community today. We believe films can impact like no other form of communication and can help reshape our society by inspiring towards action.”
Added JCC’s Joseph Stern Center for Social Responsibility director Sheryl Parker, “This festival is about much more than showing timely films on important issues. Our goal is to show great films that inspire people to want to do something — and then provide them with concrete ways to move from inspiration to meaningful action.”
Opening Night selection: All Rise
Formerly known as “Monster,” Anthony Mandler’s timely criminal justice story tells of Steve Harmon, a young black teenager, honors student and aspiring filmmaker, who is charged with felony murder. Adapted from the best-selling novel by Walter Dean Myers, Mandler’s debut feature premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and stars Jennifer Hudson, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jennifer Ehle, Jeffrey Wright and Tim Blake Nelson.
Thursday, January 16
7 pm., followed by a Q&A and the opening night reception.
Closing Night selection: Harriet
This special screening of Kasi Lemmons’ award nominated narrative feature tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Starring Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn and Janelle Monáe, it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September and opened in theaters nationwide last month.
Monday, Jan. 20
5:30 pm., followed by a Q&A.
Other highlights include:
Thrist For Justice: The East Coast premiere of Leana Hosea’s eye-opening documentary explores the devastating fallout felt by communities across the U.S. (from Flint, Michigan to the Navajo Nation) whose water supplies have been contaminated and where our most precious of resources, clean drinking water, is not being treated as a basic human right.
Changing The Game: Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Barnett’s dynamic and transformative documentary takes us into the lives of three transgender high school athletes—all at different stages of their athletic seasons, personal lives, and unique paths experiencing both success and fierce resistance in the world of sports.
We Are the Radical Monarchs: Linda Goldstein’s thought-provoking documentary follows a group of 8 to 12-year-old girls of color in Oakland, CA, called the Radical Monarchs–a social justice-oriented alternative to the Girl Scouts–whose mission is to create and inspire a new generation of social justice activists.
The All-Americans: Billy McMillin’s debut documentary tells of the East LA Classic–an annual football game between the country’s fiercest high school football rivals, James A. Garfield High School and Theodore Roosevelt High School, located in the nation’s largest Latino immigrant community—and the personal obstacles some of their players face while they strive to make sense of their place in today’s America.
Always In Season: Jacqueline Olive’s debut feature documentary follows the harrowing story of a mother as she dives deeper into her son’s horrific murder and sparks a national conversation to find justice for his case.
Slay The Dragon: Barak Goodman/Chris Durrance’s stirring documentary about a secretive, high-tech gerrymandering initiative launched 10 years ago which threatens to undermine our democracy and hailed by Variety as “the most important political film of the year.”
The festival will also host events throughout the weekend:
Shabbat Shabbang: Presented in Partnership with Cinematters
Our dinners will include films, panels, and music that inspires social action—taking the spiritual practice of breaking bread together and using our shared time to explore social justice, history, current and political happenings, and other matters of interest to Jewish and NYC audiences. Pre-registration required.
Friday, Jan. 17
7 p.m. $18 per person
Cinematters R&R: Shabbat at the JCC
An amazing opportunity to experience the Cinematters Festival as a family and as a community, R&R is an incredible alternative to the typical New York Saturday and it’s all free! Suitable for adults and children, this day will include films and artists, storytelling, the Peace of Heart Choir, text study on social justice, art, yoga, musical performance, discussions, panels, open play, and more.
Saturday, Jan. 18
2–5 pm. Free
Cinematters Social Justice Fair
Meet face-to-face with representatives from community organizations doing powerful social justice work across a wide variety of issues, including climate change, housing justice, immigrant and refugee rights, and more! Come find a way to plug in, get connected, and take action.
Sunday, Jan. 19
Noon–5 pm. Free
From Intention to Action: A Morning of Advocacy + Service
Join us on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a morning of learning, reflection, service, and action to honor Dr. King’s legacy. Participate in workshops on how to take action on immigrant rights, environmental justice, racial equity, and more; or participate in hands-on service projects, including cooking a meal for the B’nai Jeshurun/Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew Homeless Shelter.
MLK Day: Monday, Jan. 20
11 am.–2 pm. Free
Activism Café
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day there will be a series of conversations about the most critical issues of our time. Learn from artists and experts doing the work, and leave with a deeper understanding of how you can commit to making a change in the world. Endless coffee included.
MLK Day: Monday, Jan. 20
11 am.–2 pm. Free
For an up-to-date schedule and speaker information, visit cinematters.film.