Screenings at Kentucky Theatre and Lexington Public Library focus on cultural issues
By Grayson Johnson
Now in its thirteenth year, Lexington’s own One World Film Festival is currently underway, showcasing recent movies that bring to light poignant cultural themes and ideas. “We’re not trying to hit you over the head with it,” laughs festival organizer Annette Mayer. “But, in a subtle way, in a pleasant way, to expand your knowledge.” The festival brings in both narrative and documentary films that highlight pressing social issues both in America and abroad. “Through film,” Mayer notes, “maybe we can understand cultural diversity.”
The festival was founded in 1999 by University of Kentucky Professor and Doctor of Medical Research Raj Chawla. A native of India and member of the Bluegrass Indian Society, Chawla had a passion for sharing his culture. In the mid-’90s, he even had a popular spot on WRFL–“Music from India” Through a national foundation called the Pew Civil Leadership Initiative, Chawla received a grant and an opportunity to share films that depicted his and other cultures’ struggles, dreams, and ways of life with the people of Lexington.
Following the inaugural year of the festival, Chawla died unexpectedly, leaving big shoes to fill behind him. “I admit, I used to be the kind that grabbed a coke and popcorn and enjoyed the movie. Didn’t think too much,” Annette Mayer says. “I think about films completely differently now.” Sitting down with Mayer, one gets an immediate sense of the passion she has for each of the films selected for the festival. She goes through the program, pointing out each film and describing the characters, their daunting situations, and the story’s social relevance. “Some of the films don’t have a happy ending,” she warns, “but they increase knowledge about a cultural issue.”
Mayer worked for thirty-six years at Transylvania University, helms the Public Library’s Book Buddies program (which recruits volunteers to take books to homebound adults) and, in honor of her friend, decided to fill Chawla’s shoes. What started as a three day, three film festival now spans a month and enriches packed theaters. Mayer puts it simply, saying she enjoys bringing “food to the mind”.
Fueling discussion
What makes the mind food of the One World Film Festival unique is that the film is only half of the experience. With each film, the festival brings in a local cultural or special interest group to whom the film is relevant to fuel discussion.
This past Sunday, the festival kicked off with Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith’s The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, a documentary that takes a look at the leaked information which disclosed stark realities about President Nixon and the Vietnam war. Between screenings, The UK Student Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held a reception with an open forum discussion about freedom of the press and free speech led by UK Journalism Professor Scoobie Ryan. The discussion was of particular interest and relevance due to the current international controversy involving Wikileaks.
In the coming weeks, acclaimed documentary and narrative films will screen with receptions held by The Muslim Women’s Council of Kentucky, The Bluegrass Youth Ballet, the Bluegrass Beekeepers Association, and other organizations who have a bond with the cause or message of a particular film. “They’re all so different!” Annette Mayer exclaims.
The One World Film Festival is free and open to the public. Screenings will occur beginning at 2 P.M. on Sundays (with a repeat at 4:30 for several of the screenings) at the Lexington Public Library Theater and at 5 P.M. and 7:30 P.. at the Kentucky Theatre on Thursdays. The festival runs through March 17. Receptions will occur between screenings.
“There are a lot of big cities out there that don’t have something like this,” remarks Fred Mills, General Manager of the Kentucky Theater. “It’s really something special.”
For more information, including a list of films, please visit http://www.oneworldfilmfestival.org/.
Leave a Reply