films for justice:
why sponsor a film festival?
good question!
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Films, whether documentaries or fiction, can be a powerful means of educating and inspiring the viewers on issues you care about. They can be a means of bringing in experts to your community in a cost-effective way. Can’t afford to fly in Robert Reich to talk about income inequality? Then show his film, Inequality for All. Films can put a personal face on the statistics that make our eyes glaze over when we read them in the newspaper. Want to talk about what it is like to live below the poverty line, but don’t want to embarrass or exploit low-income members of your community? Show The Line, which follows individuals in different parts of the country who live below the federal poverty line.
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start by asking...
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In the fall of 2014, WFVJ and the Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice of South Central Wisconsin partnered to present “Why Poverty? An Economic Justice Film Festival”. Five films, highlighting different aspects of economic inequality, were shown over the course of two months, at five different congregations around the greater Madison area. After each film, a speaker with expertise connected with the theme of that night’s film gave a brief presentation, followed by Q&A and discussion.
The film series fulfilled several goals for WFVJ. Primarily, the films chosen helped us educate and inspire participants on issues of income inequality that are core to our mission.
Beyond that, the film festival enable us to forge stronger ties with our sister organization, brought new connections and solidified existing ones with a diversity of congregations, clergy, and denominations; and increased our reach outside the Madison city limits. We added new members to our organizations and increased public awareness of our work. We also were able to create new relationships with organizations and academic scholars with whom we hope to work more closely in the coming year.
The film series fulfilled several goals for WFVJ. Primarily, the films chosen helped us educate and inspire participants on issues of income inequality that are core to our mission.
Beyond that, the film festival enable us to forge stronger ties with our sister organization, brought new connections and solidified existing ones with a diversity of congregations, clergy, and denominations; and increased our reach outside the Madison city limits. We added new members to our organizations and increased public awareness of our work. We also were able to create new relationships with organizations and academic scholars with whom we hope to work more closely in the coming year.
What are the goals that YOU have for a film festival? The answer to that question will determine whether you hold a festival, the number of films you show, the films that you choose, the speakers you invite, the audience you target.
