2015 Show Me Justice Film Festival

Thursday Afternoon Shorts (12:30pm—Hendricks Hall)

• Thursday Shorts
• Thursday Features
• Friday Shorts
• Friday Features

Image from Not Anymore: A Story of Revolution, playing during Thursday's Shorts Program

Thursday's Shorts Program will be screened from 12:30-1:45pm in Hendricks Hall.

Cotton Dreams

India, Documentary, 14 minutes, 30 seconds
Directed by Sandeep Rampal Balhara

A growing economy and the extensive use of biotechnology have pushed Indian farmers into the world’s greatest agrarian crisis. “Cotton Dreams” delves into the life of one rural Indian family and depicts a tragic tale of love, life and sacrifice under extreme living conditions.

Like If...

Italy, Narrative, 5 minutes
Directed by Daniele Bonarini

A woman attempting to understand an epidemic is stymied at every turn: by stairs, a broken elevator, and too narrow alleyways. Can her dreams of action become a reality?

Glow

USA, Documentary, 11 minutes, 15 seconds
Directed by Cara Myers

“GLOW” tells the story of two women who used their savings and skills to launch Girls Leading Our World, Inc., a nonprofit serving at risk women (ages 18-24) in Kansas City. GLOW emphasizes leadership, positive self-esteem, family cohesiveness and safety, while helping girls transcend their challenging circumstances and build upon their strengths. Produced by Kansas City Women in Film and Television.

Not Anymore: A Story of Revolution

USA, Documentary, 15 minutes
Directed by Matthew Van Dyke

This film depicts the conflict in Syria as experienced by Mowya, a 32-year-old rebel commander, and, Nour, a 24-year-old female journalist, in Aleppo, Syria. Told through the emotional words of two people whose lives have been torn apart by war, “Not Anymore” shows why Syrians are fighting for their freedom.

The Little Match Girl

Brazil, Animated Narrative, 9 minutes, 15 seconds
by Kyoko Yamashita

A modern retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, a poor, homeless girl struggles to survive and can only escape into her dreams, illustrating persistent problems found in societies undergoing economic development, divided by economic inequalities.

Slum Dreams

USA/Kenya, Documentary, 11 minutes
Directed by Brendan Modini

With big dreams to become a journalist and a pilot, two children must find a way to pursue their education in order to achieve their goals. The YCCM (Young County ChangeMakers) is an organization in Kisumu, Kenya’s Nyalenda Slum that provides support and guidance to help youth like these reach their full potential. Produced by Actuality Media.

KaraFISTIK

USA, Animated/Experimental, 3 minutes, 45 seconds
by Nesli Erten

Using animation, “KaraFISTIK” is a celebration of the female body. As part of this celebration, the film depicts how hard it is to ignore societal pressure and love oneself for oneself.

Now! Again!

USA, Experimental, 4 minutes, 37 seconds
by Alexander Johnston

This film juxtaposes found footage from Cuban filmmaker Santiago Alvarez’s civil rights film NOW! (1965) with contemporary images depicting the ongoing struggle in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked by the killing of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson. By placing images from 1965 next to those from 2014, the film presents issues of race, violence, and power and how those issues echo through history.

Thursday Night Features (7:00pm—Hendricks Hall)

• Thursday Shorts
• Thursday Features
• Friday Shorts
• Friday Features

Image from The Human Experiment, playing during Thursday's Features Program

Thursday's Features Program will be screened at 7pm in Hendricks Hall.

Jessica Walking

USA, Narrative, 29 minutes
Directed by Maria Sanders

Two women, one older, single, and pregnant and one young, hungover, and lost, embark on a journey through a small town to find a lost cell phone and put together the pieces of the previous night’s events.

Unafraid: Voices From the Crime Victims Treatment Center

USA, Documentary, 44 minutes
Directed by Karin Venegas

Four rape survivors share their stories of trauma, resilience, and activism. “Unafraid” explores the impact of rape and the capacity of ordinary individuals to effect change.

Living in the Overlap

USA, Documentary, 28 minutes
Directed by Mary Dalton and Cindy Hill
This film is sponsored by Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at UCM

For over 40 years, Lennie and Pearl have shared a passion for social justice and for each other. Now, the indelible spark of their love inspires many others as they fight for their right to marry in North Carolina.

The Human Experiment

USA, Documentary, 91 minutes
Directed by Dana Nachman & Don Hardy

This film lifts the veil on the shocking reality that thousands of untested chemicals are in our everyday products, our homes, and inside of us. Simultaneously, the prevalence of many diseases continues to rise. From Oscar® winner Sean Penn and Emmy® winning journalists Dana Nachman and Don Hardy, The Human Experiment tells the personal stories of people who believe their lives have been affected by chemicals and takes viewers to the front lines as activists go head-to-head with the powerful and well-funded chemical industry.

Friday Afternoon Shorts (Noon—Hendricks Hall)

• Thursday Shorts
• Thursday Features
• Friday Shorts
• Friday Features

Image from I've Just Had a Dream, playing during Friday's Shorts Program

Friday's Shorts Program will be screened from 12:00-12:50pm in Hendricks Hall.

Two Brothers

Thailand, Narrative, 9 minutes
Directed by Worrawut Lakchai

Two young brothers cannot see eye to eye on anything. As their father teaches them the absurdity of selfishness, they begin to realize the importance of living together and caring for each other.

Plastic Glory

USA, Animated/Experimental, 6 minutes
by Ihab Mardini

It’s just a game, and the toy soldiers are just that: toys. But as their war rages on, the viewer must decide if the soldiers are something more.

Food Fight

USA, Documentary, 10 minutes
Directed by Ejanaii Clayton and Nyzeria Bush

“Food Fight” explores the challenges of eating healthy amidst inner city food deserts. By telling the stories of people who are growing their own food and engaging in the battle for food justice, this film shows us that another way is possible. A YouthFX Documentary work.

I've Just Had a Dream

Spain, Narrative, 7 minutes, 30 seconds
Directed by Javi Navarro

Two young girls have each had a dream: one dream is a “nightmare” while the other is not. Both girls inhabit the same world but each sees it very differently.

Crumbs

USA, Narrative, 4 minutes, 30 seconds
Directed by Alejandra Castro

A boy reads a poem about a hard working, blue ant. Meanwhile, his mother attempts to get a job...but then we see that, in some ways, she’s not so different from her son’s blue ant.

Fast and Cheap

Germany, Narrative/Satire, 4 minutes
Directed by Philipp Glauner

In this faux advertisement, businessman Müller explains the advantages of his company AIT (Android Industrial Technologies) and its products. While Müller praises his androids’ efficiency, performance and their economic advantages in comparison to human workers, we see the reality behind his golden promises.

Kids on Gender

UK, Documentary, 9 minutes, 15 seconds
Directed by Jasmine Pitt

This film uses children’s exploratory minds to challenge the limiting nature of socially constructed gender roles. Through drama, art and discussion the children explore what gender means to them, express their opinions about gender performance and analyze gender fluidity.

Friday Night Features (7pm—Hendricks Hall)

• Thursday Shorts
• Thursday Features
• Friday Shorts
• Friday Features

Image from Dress Rehearsal For an Execution, playing during Friday's Features Program

Friday's Features Program will be screened at 7pm in Hendricks Hall.

Conviction

USA, Documentary, 42 minutes, 30 seconds
Directed by Brenda Truelson Fox, produced by Robin Truesdale

In 2002, three Dominican nuns were arrested and tried for breaking into a Colorado missile silo. “Conviction” describes the women’s motivations and actions as ‘Plowshare Activists,’ entering military sites and performing disarmament actions. The story shows how three radical, nonviolent activists are willing to give up their personal freedoms to bring attention to the issue of nuclear armaments.

Inside Story

USA, Documentary, 27 minutes, 40 seconds
Directed by Craig Leake

A theater actress and storyteller goes into Memphis, Tennessee’s women’s prison and teaches inmates how to write the true stories of their lives before they were incarcerated. Their stories form the basis for a review-type performance, allowing the women to connect with both their visitors and the actors who portray them.

A Dress Rehearsal For an Execution

Canada, Documentary, 60 minutes
Directed by Bahman Tavoosi

Since the Pulitzer Prize for journalism was first established, only one winning photograph has ever been anonymous. In 2006, Jahangir Razmi revealed that he photographed the 1979 prize-winning picture: an execution in post-revolution Iran. “A Dress Rehearsal for an Execution” records the process of restaging the photograph, dissecting the role of documentary photography as both art form and social commentary while questioning and highlighting creative license and political history.