Indigenous Film Series kicks off tonight

Posted January 19, 2011 by Erin Algiere, Former Exhibitions Project Associate

International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management

In support of our upcoming 2011 exhibition, Native Roots | Modern Form: Plants, Peoples & the Art of Allan Houser (opening May 1), the Gardens has partnered with the International Institute of Indigenous Resource Management (IIIRM) to present a year-long film series highlighting indigenous voices and issues from around the world.

All films are free to the public with a suggested donation of $5 to support public programming at IIIRM and Denver Botanic Gardens. Tonight kicks off this monthly film series with the award-wining Israeli documentary, The Film Class.

 

A still shot from the israeli documentary, The Film Class.

The Film Class (trailer)

directed by Uri Rosenwaks: Ruth Diskin Films (53 min., 2006)

A filmmaking class in the Bedouin town of Rahat in Israel’s Negev Desert becomes a life-changing experience for a group of Black Bedouin women. The director, hired to teach a filmmaking class, begins with the basics of how to use the equipment, but as the women talk about the discrimination they face on a daily basis from White Bedouins, he begins to ask questions about their roots that they cannot answer. They are unaware that their ancestors were kidnapped in Africa by Arab slave traders and auctioned-off in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Zanzibar; unaware that as recently as 50 years ago, the Black Bedouins were enslaved by White Bedouins. As the women explore their family and community histories, this modest course in filmmaking becomes a place in which a great taboo comes into the open. As they learn more about the past, these women become increasingly empowered to challenge the prejudices and discrimination of the present.

A discussion with Dr. Herzl Melmed, who chaired the Partnership 2000 collaboration of Colorado with the Ramat Negev region of Israel, will follow the film screening.

January 19 at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30

Location: Denver Botanic Gardens (1007 York Street) at Gates Hall in the Boettcher Memorial Center.

Follow additional film listings on our website for these spring film dates:

  • Wednesday, January 19, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, February 23, 7 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 24, 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, April 19, 7 p.m.

The Film Class is presented by the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management & Indigenous Film & Arts Festival, in partnership with the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, the Denver Jewish Film Festival and No Credits Productions.