Films have the power to change the world… but they need our help. MVFF’s Active Cinema program is a curated selection of six extraordinary documentaries tackling some of the most timely issues impacting our world. But Active Cinema isn’t just about watching great films. “Documentaries are a reflection of society,” says Active Cinema Manager Maribel Guevara. “They inform us, inspire us and create change.”
If animal activism is near and dear to your heart, Active Cinema has got you covered. American Cats: The Good, the Bad and the Cuddly satirically sheds light on the cruel practice of rich people protecting their fancy furniture by de-clawing their cats. In Mollie’s Pack, the stories of the people who helped wolves return to Yellowstone 50 years after their extirpation are interwoven via extraordinary 16mm footage that was once thought to be lost.
On the sociopolitical front, Homegrown presents a fascinating inside look into the lives of some of the players involved in the traumatic events of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Borderland: The Line Within examines the dark reality that inhumane practices like separating families at the U.S. border fuel an enormous, infernal profit machine.
Women’s empowerment takes center stage in Into the Heart of the Mountain, which follows Buddhist activist Joan Halifax as she promotes gender equality through medicine in the Himalayas. And in Zurawski v Texas, Amanda Zurawski, who spoke at this year’s Democratic National Convention, fights for the reproductive rights of women across the country.
Each screening will be followed by a discussion featuring special guests from the films, and the audience will be given tips on how they can get involved and become part of the solution. “Watching a film in a theater is a wonderful experience,” Guevara says. “But when on top of that you get educated and inspired, it’s doubly amazing.”
