June 24 – The Weight of the Nation: Three years in the making, The Weight of the Nation offers an unflinching look at the severity of the obesity crisis, highlighting the groundwork for the societal transformations that must take place in order to slow, arrest and eventually reverse the prevalence of obesity and bring the nation to a healthier weight. It is one of the most far-reaching public health campaigns on this epidemic to date. The multi-part, multi-platform series comprises four documentary films, a three-part series for families, 12 bonus shorts, a robust website and social media campaign, a book published by St. Martin’s Press and the free distribution of DVDs and comprehensive discussion guides to more than 40,000 community-based organizations working to fight obesity around the country. (summary courtesy of HBO)
July 8 – Fresh: Fresh celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.
July 15 – Dive!: Inspired by a curiosity about our country's careless habit of sending food straight to landfills, the multi award-winning documentary Dive! follows filmmaker Jeremy Seifert and friends as they prowl the dumpsters of back alleys and gated garbage receptacles of Los Angeles' supermarkets. In the process, they salvage thousands of dollars worth of good, edible food - resulting in an inspiring documentary – a call to action presented with entertaining guerilla journalism.
July 22 – Queen of the Sun: Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? is a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis from Taggart Siegel, director of The Real Dirt on Farmer John. Taking us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive, this engaging and uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic tale of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers from around the world including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk and Vandana Shiva. Together they present problems and provide solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.
July 29 – Farmageddon: Americans’ right to access fresh, healthy foods of their choice is under attack. Farmageddontells the story of small, family farms that were providing safe, healthy foods to their communities and were forced to stop, sometimes through violence, by agents of misguided government bureaucracies, and seeks resolution.
August 12 – Urban Roots: “Urban Roots is an inspiring film about the emergence of urban farming in Detroit. It shows what’s possible after the collapse of the industrial era and how we begin building a sustainable future for all." Leonardo DiCaprio
August 19 – Dirt! The Movie: Dirt! The Movie is an insightful and timely film that tells the story of the glorious and unappreciated material beneath our feet. Inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, Dirt! The Movie takes a humorous and substantial look into the history and current state of the living organic matter that we come from and to which we will later return.
Admission to the educational films is free, with each beginning at 2 p.m. in the Linn-Henley Lecture Hall. No registration is required. After some films, experts will host a community discussion about their content.
