Nine Compelling Award-Winning Documentaries Presented Free to the Community
San Diego Public Library will present a selection of award-winning documentaries at the Central Library downtown, 820 E Street, this October 2010 – June 2011, in conjunction with the prestigious PBS series, Independent Lens. This film series, jointly curated by the Independent Television Service (ITVS) and PBS, addresses today’s key cultural and social issues. Community Cinema screenings are FREE and open to the public.
San Diego Public Library has teamed up with Community Cinema, a public education initiative active in more than 70 U.S. cities nationwide and online, to bring these entertaining and thought-provoking films to San Diego. Community Cinema aims to bring communities together to learn, discuss, and connect with local resources and to discover opportunities to get involved. Screenings at the Central Library are scheduled about a month before their KPBS television broadcast – leading the way for open communication and plans for sustained action.
This year, the Independent Lens host will be America Ferrera. Ferrera, who is best known for her leading role in the television show, Ugly Betty and the popular Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants films, will introduce the documentaries on-screen, lending her support for the series as Susan Sarandon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Terrence Howard have before her. In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, Ferrera commented, “Documentary films are so powerful because they have the ability to educate and entertain at the same time.[This series] includes some really wonderful, interesting stories that help give a bigger perspective of our world.”
“One of the library’s strengths is providing venues and materials for community discussion,” said San Diego Public Library Director Deborah Barrow. “This series brings some of the most crucial national and global issues to our doorsteps. It will be very exciting to have these thoughtful discussions that engage professionals and community members in finding realistic solutions to challenging issues.”
Films will be shown monthly on Mondays. Topics include sustainable energy, faith in a changing society, arts and the disabled community, immigration and more. The first film in the series is Reel Injun: On the Trail of the Hollywood Indian. Screening on October 18, this entertaining and bittersweet film explores the image of Native Americans from the silent movies to contemporary productions.
For a complete lineup or more information about the Community Cinema series visit: http://communitycinema.org/