INTO THE NIGHT
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INTO THE NIGHT: PORTRAITS LIFE AND DEATH features intimate, provocative stories of men and women forever changed by their encounters with mortality.
We don't know how. We don't know when. But death comes for us all.
To be human is to wrestle with this truth and with the great unanswered question: How do we live with death in our eye? Do we go gently or raging against the dying light? Do we depart with equanimity or with anger? With clenched fists or more commonly with denial? Or do we see death as something to be fought and even possibly conquered, a challenge increasingly pursued by some of the brightest scientific minds? Finally, what are the stories we tell ourselves? Whether shaped by religion, science, art, the natural world, the power of love, do these narratives sustain us or do they fall away when we suddenly find ourselves "with skin in the game"?
INTO THE NIGHT: Portraits of Life and Death features fascinating, unexpected voices from various walks of life: old and young, believers and nonbelievers, the dying and the healthy, well known and obscure. Among them: Caitlin Doughty, an alternative mortician and bestselling author with her own YouTube following; Adam Frank, an astrophysicist and NPR commentator, Gabriel Byrne, renowned actor of stage and screen; Max More, a cryonicist and futurist; and Phyllis Tickle, a near-death experience spokesperson and religious historian.
However varied their backgrounds, all are unified by their uncommon eloquence and intelligence, and most important by their dramatic experience of death. Each of them has been shocked into an awareness of mortality—and they are forever changed. For them death is no longer an abstraction, far away in the future. Whether through a dire prognosis, the imminence of their own death, the loss of a loved one, a sudden epiphany, or a temperament born to question, these are people who have truly "awakened" to their own mortality.
INTO THE NIGHT, PART TWO features intimate, provocative stories of nine men and women forever changed by their encounters with mortality. Through the lenses of Buddhism, a cancer diagnosis, a Native American vision quest, Talmudic perspectives, artistic pursuits, medical advances in aging and longevity, and breakthrough technologies, they challenge us to rethink our place in the universe.These dramatic first-hand accounts unsettle, awaken and inspire.
242 minutes
There are two parts of this program: Part 1 is 125 minutes and Part 2 is 117 minutes
SDH Captioned
Directed by Helen Whitney
Produced by Helen Whitney, Katie Taber
Writer: Helen Whitney
Editor: Kris Liem
Music: Ed Bilous
Narrator: Sharon StoneWe offer two basic screening options: in-person or virtual. Book an in-person screening using the button below. For an online screening, fill out the virtual screening request form.
For more information on virtual screening options, visit our Learn About Screenings page.
COMMUNITY SCREENINGS (single events with license to charge admission)
$100 Small Community Screening (1-50 people), Part 1 or 2
$150 Small Community Screening (1-50 people), Part 1 and 2
$200 Medium Community Screening (51-100 people), Part 1 or 2
$250 Medium Community Screening (51-100 people), Part 1 and 2
$350 Large Community Screening (100+ people), Part 1 or 2
$400 Large Community Screening (100+ people), Part 1 and 2
"This exceptional documentary is full of heart, offering a variety of perspectives on death and dying that will prompt viewers to reflect on their own attitudes, beliefs and values, shedding light on life and living. The featured stories cover death, dying and grief from personal, professional, psychological, biological, medical, sociological, philosophical, and spiritual perspectives, serving as an insightful conversation-starter for rich discussion in classroom and community settings."Erica G. Srinivasan, Director, Center for Grief and Death Education, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
"Moving, beautiful, and multifaceted...The filmmakers masterfully weave together information and observations about biomedical, spiritual, social, and cultural aspects of death and mourning...INTO THE NIGHT poses probing questions that will generate important conversations about the meaning of life and death, grief, and the ethics of end-of-life care - and these conversations will linger long after the credits roll. The film demystifies and destigmatizes death, and is essential viewing for students enrolled in courses on death, dying, end-of-life care, medical ethics, and more."Deborah Carr, Professor of Sociology, Boston University, Author, Golden Years? Social Inequality in Later Life
"Apocalyptic and stunning and, for me, even life-changing. An astonishing piece of work which I urge you all to see."Anna Fels, MD, Weill Medical College of Cornell University at New York Presbyterian Hospital
"A miraculous and courageous film that is so true, and so deep that it should be required viewing for all mortal beings."Irvin David Yalom, MD, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, Stanford University, Co-author, A Matter of Death and Life
"We are all going INTO THE NIGHT --it's one of the few guarantees in life. This poignant and beautiful film can be used as a catalyst to increase our death literacy and understanding of this integral process in life. The stories and interviews have such diversity and depth that there is something for everyone to connect with. This is just what people need to get conversations about dying, death and living well started."Katherine Kortes-Miller, Associate Professor of Social Work, Lakehead University, Author, Talking About Death Won't Kill You: The Essential Guide to End-of-Life Conversations
"It can come as a surprise that discussing death with others can bring us closer to them, making us realize that we share many of the same responses to mortality. But reaching out, ending the silence, can be difficult, especially in a classroom setting. Instructors can break the ice by showing this excellent film, which documents the moving and deeply personal thoughts and experiences of several individuals whose lives were transformed by the realization that they are going to die."Steven Luper, Professor of Philosophy, Trinity University, Author, The Philosophy of Death and Mortal Objects (forthcoming)
"Watching INTO THE NIGHT makes clear that it's a lot more about life...To potential viewers, Whitney has a simple message: Don't be scared."David Bauder, Associated Press
"A deep and riveting exploration of life's central mystery - death. Featuring a panoply of voices from all walks of life, the film examines how we inhabit our lives in the shadow of our mortality. Brimming with refreshing insight and radical moments of introspection, this extended visit with death should be required viewing for people of all ages. Its central message reminds us that to live life fully means making friends with death. Masterful. A stunning cultural artifact."Dr. Anita Hannig, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Brandeis University, Author, The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America (forthcoming)
"Not until our own death - or the death of someone we love deeply - do we confront the meaning of death and the life we have lived. INTO THE NIGHT challenges us to explore profound existential questions: What happens when I die? How do I feel about my own death? Do I fear it, rage against it, or embrace it? Is there life after death? This wonderful film will stimulate viewers - young and old - to think deeply, perhaps for the first time, how they will make sense of their own life and mortality. I highly, highly recommend this film, not just for those students interested in psychology, thanatology, or medicine, but for anyone curious about the meaning of life and of death."Dr. Christopher Davis, Professor of Psychology, Carleton University
"A uniquely profound portrayal of our common human destiny."Donald Shriver, former President, Union Theological Seminary, New York
"Provides the opportunity to consider the fragility of life, the process of dying, and beliefs about the afterlife. Viewers will be challenged to consider connections between living and dying from people who have occupied a variety of roles in life. While appropriate for use in formal death education courses and the training of people involved in end of life care, this resource could also be useful in any setting where the goal is to stimulate conversations among adults who wish to contemplate their mortality."Carla Sofka, Professor of Social Work, Siena College
"Accurately examines how our death narratives both fail us and comfort us through stories in religion, science, modern trends, and fascinating prospects of future advances in aging. Through beautifully told stories of loss the film examines powerful questions in a raw, loving, funny, and at times graphic way. The film details the importance of conversations about death in communities, and the real problems associated with continuing to keep death at a distance. The fundamental truth is we all must come to terms with death, and embracing death is essential to living and loving with the fullness of our being."Angela Knight, Associate Professor of Funeral Service Education, University of Central Oklahoma
A CRIME ON THE BAYOU
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In A CRIME ON THE BAYOU a Black teenager is arrested for touching a white boy's arm! The unjustly arrested Black man and his young Jewish attorney take the case to the Supreme Court to fight for the right of all Americans to a fair trial.
A CRIME ON THE BAYOU is the story of Gary Duncan, a Black teenager from Plaquemines Parish, a swampy strip of land south of New Orleans.
In 1966, Duncan tries to break up an argument between white and Black teenagers outside a newly integrated school, in the course of which he dares to gently lay a hand on a white boy's arm. That night, police burst into Duncan's trailer and arrest him for assault on a minor.
A young Jewish attorney, Richard Sobol, leaves his prestigious D.C. firm to volunteer in New Orleans. With his help, Duncan bravely stands up to a racist legal system powered by a white supremacist boss to challenge his unfair arrest. Their fight goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and their lifelong friendship is forged.
Written and directed by Nancy Buirski A CRIME ON THE BAYOU is the final film in her acclaimed trilogy profiling brave individuals who fought for justice in and around the Civil Rights era. The other films are The Loving Story and The Rape of Recy Taylor.
Directed by Nancy Buirski
Produced by Nancy Buirski, Susan Margolin, Claire L. Chandler
Executive Producers: Regina K. Scully, John Legend, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius, Austin Biggers, Geralyn Dreyfous, Harlene Freezer, Jules Horowitz, Felicia Horowitz, Brenda Robinson, Mark Trustin, Jamie Wolf
Editor: Anthony Ripoli
Director of Photography: Rex Miller
Archival Producer: Hannah Shepard
Music Supervisor: Doug Bernheim
Writer: Nancy Buirski
Inspired by "Deep Delta Justice" by Matthew Van Meter
A Production of Augusta Films LLC in assocation with Get Lifted Film Co, and Artemis Rising FoundationWe offer two basic screening options: in-person or virtual. Book an in-person screening using the button below. For an online screening, fill out the virtual screening request form.
For more information on virtual screening options, visit our Learn About Screenings page.
COMMUNITY SCREENINGS (single events with license to charge admission)
$100 Small Community Screening (1-50 people)
$200 Medium Community Screening (51-100 people)
$350 Large Community Screening (100+ people)
"Every American should watch this riveting portrayal of the breadth and depth of racial injustice in the Deep South of the 1960s."
Jane Dailey, Professor of American History, University of Chicago, Author, White Fright: The Sexual Panic at the Heart of America's Racist History
"Vivid...Provide[s] an unusually palpable sense of just how much deeply-ingrained institutional and cultural bias needed to be overcome for the civil rights movement to make real headway...[An] engrossing, flavorful document."
Dennis Harvey, Variety"A CRIME ON THE BAYOU never explodes with fury. But that doesn't mean you won't feel enraged while taking in the maddening series of systematic wrongs committed against Sobol and Duncan."
Robert Daniels, The Los Angeles Times"Thoughtful and illuminating...Shines a light on a groundbreaking piece of recent American history that will be news to many viewers."
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter
"Filmmaker Nancy Buirski has an elegant, judicious way of imparting the facts of the case, taking not just the political temperature of the moment (boiling) but finely sketching the character and minds of the people involved. 4 out of 4 stars."
Steven Boone, Roger Ebert
"Buirski follows the case with cogency and clarity, illuminating its implications and putting it in the perspective of Black and white alliances in the struggle for Civil Rights."
Peter Keough, The Boston Globe
"It has a potent idea, which is to show how even bureaucratic aspects of the legal system in the Deep South in the 1960s could be weaponized against Black Americans."
Ben Kenigsberg, New York Times
"Must-see...A CRIME ON THE BAYOU focuses on an incident that happened in 1966 but is, infuriatingly, still timely and relevant more than half a century later."
Lois Alter Mark, Alliance of Women Film Journalists
"Buirski has assembled an impressive set of historical sources but allows the story to unfold so naturally that it feels as if it were being told for the first time...The issues at the heart of this film remain very much alive today."
Jennie Kermode, Eye for Film
"The film sharply illustrates the pervasive character of systemic racism that allows one person to use his position in society to tangle another in a web that can trap him for a lifetime."
Pat Mullen, POV Magazine
"Tells a powerful, important story, the reverberations of which still linger."
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media
"Essential...An urgent, exceptionally well told chronicle of an important but often forgotten moment in American history."
Sean Patrick, Vocal
"Topical and gripping...Given current events, rarely has a film felt so essential."
Mike Scott, Times-Picayune
"Very well-made...An essential piece to think about the United States of America - how it was and why it is like it is today."
Letícia Magalhaes, Cine Suffragette"If you want to look at this national conversation about systemic racism, this is a nice demonstration of where it manifests."
Kevin Carr, Fat Guys at the Movies
"Documentarian Nancy Buirski deploys a delicate cinematic elegance to tell Duncan's tale."
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosophe"I strongly recommend A CRIME ON THE BAYOU...The story it tells is about a key moment in the fight against Jim Crow, and it tells it well."
Louis Proyect, The Unrepentant Marxist"Fascinating...A very different documentary on race and hate in the 1960s. Normally, we are shown stories of illegal incarceration, pain and suffering...Could we have here a story of the carriage of justice?"
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
A CRIME ON THE BAYOU Resources
A CRIME ON THE BAYOU Screening Resources
A CRIME ON THE BAYOU
Screening Poster
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A CRIME ON THE BAYOU
Screening Guide
click to downloadA CRIME ON THE BAYOU
Press Notes
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Press Stills
Organizations/Websites
PlainSite: Gary Duncan v. State of Louisiana
Gary Duncan v. State of Louisiana Supreme Court Decision
The National Urban League is a historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization with 90 affiliates serving 300 communities, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than two million people nationwide.
The Jewish Film Institute (JFI) is the premier curatorial voice for Jewish film and media, a leading arts and culture organization in the Bay Area and presenter of the annual San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF).
NAACP builds Black political power to end structural racism.
For nearly 100 years, the ACLU has been a guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in the country.
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.
National Black Law Students Association is committed to increasing the number of culturally responsible Black and minority attorneys who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.
The National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) is an American association, formed in 1968, to offer legal assistance to black civil rights activists.
Noted as one of the nation's premier heritage and cultural museums, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, is steadfast in its mission to share the culture and lessons from the American Civil Rights Movement and explore how this significant era continues to shape equality and freedom globally.
The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.Books
Lyon, Danny. Conversations with the Dead. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1971.
Spriggs, Kent. Voices of Civil Rights Leaders. University Press of Florida, 2017.
Van Meter, Matthew. Deep Delta Justice. Little Brown and Company, 2020.
Warren, Robert Penn. Who Speaks for the Negro. Random House, 1965.
Bullfrog Communities, a project of Bullfrog Films, is thrilled to announce the availability of major award-winning new releases for virtual or in-person community and campus-wide screenings this fall and winter.
Book now for Fall events! Both free admission or ticketed screenings are available.WHAT IS CONSCIOUSNESS?
Is it in all living beings? Why are we predisposed for mystical experience? AWARE: Glimpses of Consciousness follows six brilliant researchers approaching the mystery from radically different perspectives—through high-tech brain research and Eastern meditation, by scientifically exploring inner space through psychedelic substances and by investigating the consciousness of plants. With the explosion of research into consciousness, scientists are arriving at new insights—some of which have been integral to Indigenous knowledge for millennia.100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes!CLEAN DRINKING WATER
The outrageous condition of the municipal water in Jackson, Mississippi has brought to the foreground the primary need for “infrastructure” repair in our marginalized communities. In THIRST FOR JUSTICE, armed only with facts and their illnesses, extraordinary citizens from three communities take on industry and government, risking arrest to demand and protect clean water.FOOD IN A CHANGING CLIMATE
The global unsustainable hunger for meat is being met head-on by the advances in biotechnology, imagining a world where real meat is produced sustainably without the impact on climate change or the need to breed, raise and slaughter animals. Exploring the game-changing development of “cultivated” meat, MEAT THE FUTURE is narrated by Jane Goodall and featuring music by MobyTALKING ABOUT MORTALITY
We are all mortal, but most of us put off actually facing death as a reality. Through the lens of astrophysics, art, cryonics, near death experiences and green burials, INTO THE NIGHT: Portraits of Life and Death challenges us to rethink our place in the universe as people share their encounters with mortality. These dramatic, first-person accounts unsettle, awaken, and inspire.WELCOMING REFUGEES
During a time of racist nationalism and emboldened anti-immigrant bigotry, the conservative state of Nebraska resettles more refugees per capita than any other state. A HOME CALLED NEBRASKA is the story of midwestern welcome and acceptance, spotlighting both the people who escaped war, torture and persecution and the generous Nebraskans who welcomed them, taught them, celebrated with them, and helped them succeed in their new home. This heartwarming documentary offers a compelling portrait of ordinary people standing up for what is right, inspiring us to do the same.
EMBARGO STILL?
Presenting a critical perspective on both governments, FRENEMIES: Cuba and the U.S. Embargo examines the fraught relationship between the island nation of Cuba and the United States. Set to the pulsating beats of Afro-Caribbean music, blending 1950s archival footage with contemporary shots of Cuba's economic decay and vibrant culture, the film paints a vivid portrait of a nation fighting for survival against the world's longest-running embargo. The United Nations has voted almost thirty times for the embargo to be lifted.
These films are available both virtually and for in-person events. For more information on booking a virtual screening right now, please go to Bullfrog Communities Streaming.
Click the links above or below to see trailers and for more information.
AWARE: Glimpses of Consciousness
Explores boundary-pushing research in the understanding of consciousness.
Short-Listed, German Academy Awards
Jury Prize, Debut Feature Competition, Illuminate Film Festival
Online Audience Award, Millennium Docs Against Gravity
“The most moving and beautiful depiction of deep understanding of consciousness and of who we are that I have seen depicted through film.”
Jack Kornfield, author and Buddhist teacher
“Stirs feelings of awe and wonder, humility and connection. A remarkable film.”
Valerie Kalfrin, Alliance of Women Film Journalists
“Consciousness-elevating food for thought.”
Michael Rechtshaffen, Los Angeles Times
“Stunningly deep, wise and visually arresting, the most mind-blowing Film the Maui Film Festival has presented in twenty years!”
Barry Rivers, Maui Film Festival Founder/DirectorTHIRST FOR JUSTICE
Focuses on three battles for clean water—on the Navajo Reservation, in Flint MI, and at Standing Rock—united in the belief that Water Is Life.
Best Documentary Feature, Gallup Film Festival
Nominee, Best Documentary Feature, Raindance Film Festival
Red Nation International Film Festival
"It is an obscenity that we allow Indigenous Americans and poor...urban people to drink [contaminated] water."
David O. Carpenter, M.D., Dir, Institute for Health, Univ at Albany
"Motivating and inspiring...'Thirst for Justice' tells the stories of two of the communities that are among the hundreds that experience water injustice across the country. It's a problem of priorities, racism, and classism. Watch the film, get informed, and support people and organizations doing something about it. Stand up with the people asking for clean water and not with greedy corporations."
Dr. J. Pablo Ortiz-Partida, Bilingual Senior Climate and Water Scientist, Union of Concerned ScientistsMEAT THE FUTURE
Follows Dr. Uma Valeti, co-founder of leading "cultivated" meat startup Upside Foods, as he and his team develop a game-changing solution to a global, unsustainable hunger for meat.
Crystal Pelican Award, Best Director, International Science Film Festival World of Knowledge
Best Picture Editing - Documentary, Directors Guild of Canada Awards
HotDocs
Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival
Seoul International Food Film Festival
"Engrossing...Persuasive...Compelling...Elegantly simple and kind of mind-blowing."
Guy Lodge, Variety
"Brilliantly captures...the vast significance of disrupting modern meat production."
Christopher Bryant, Research Assoc. Psychology, University of BathINTO THE NIGHT: Portraits of Life and Death
Two-part documentary features intimate, provocative stories of men and women forever changed by their encounters with mortality.
National Broadcast on PBS
Austin Film Festival
Hamptons Documentary Festival
"A miraculous and courageous film that is so true, and so deep that it should be required viewing for all mortal beings."
Irvin David Yalom, MD, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, Stanford University, Co-author, A Matter of Death and Life
"Watching 'Into the Night' makes clear that it's a lot more about life...To potential viewers, Whitney has a simple message: Don't be scared."
David Bauder, Associated Press
"We are all going 'Into the Night'—it's one of the few guarantees in life. This poignant and beautiful film can be used as a catalyst to increase our death literacy and understanding of this integral process in life. The stories and interviews have such diversity and depth that there is something for everyone to connect with. This is just what people need to get conversations about dying, death and living well started."
Katherine Kortes-Miller, Associate Professor of Social Work, Lakehead University, Author, Talking About Death Won't Kill You: The Essential Guide to End-of-Life ConversationsA HOME CALLED NEBRASKA
Nebraskans wholeheartedly welcome refugees, showing that the newcomers enrich their communities, their economies, and their lives. Their welcome works to dispel fear, build bridges and change their own perceptions along the way.
Best Indie Spirit - Documentary, Sedona International Film Festival
Best Documentary Feature, Piermont Film Festival
Mountainfilm
Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival
“Inspiring...This film is particularly relevant right now, as the country starts to look at what divides and unites us as Americans, following the elections. In the end, and deep down, we are not that different from one another, despite religion, place of birth, or political affiliation. As we look forward to rebuilding the infrastructure to help more refugees to resettle in the US, materials such as this film will be invaluable in approaching potential host communities with a realistic picture of refugee resettlement."
Erol Kekic, Director, Immigration and Refugee Program, Church World Service
"Poignant, joyful, devastating, and searing...An ultimately hopeful film that pushes beyond sensationalistic headlines and polarizing politics to make the case that refugee resettlement is important for all of us in contemporary America. The filmmakers do not shy away from the many challenges that face newcomers, but they emphasize the creative and positive ways that refugees rebuild their lives and in doing so benefit the new communities they join...A tremendous vision of what America can be at its best, driven by the dreams and aspirations of its newest members."
Pablo S. Bose, Associate Professor of Geography, Director of Global and Regional Studies, University of Vermont, Author, Refugees in New Destinations and Small Cities: Resettlement in VermontFRENEMIES: Cuba and the U.S. Embargo
Presents a balanced portrait of Cuban life today and a compelling argument for why the US should lift the devastating 60-year embargo.
Audience Award, Dunedin International Film Festival
Audience Award, Oregon International Film Festival
Award of Excellence, Docs Without Borders Film Festival
Social Impact Award, Latino & Native American Film Festival
Impact Award in Global Politics, The Most Important Films International
Film Festival
"Riveting...provides a historical and contemporary context for understanding the sixty-year US embargo against Cuba."
Philip Brenner, Emeritus, Intl Relations, American University
"'Frenemies' is the best Cuban documentary made to date! It is not pro-Cuban Government. It gives clarity to the insanity of the US embargo toward Cuba. Regardless of your politics on US/Cuba relations you will enjoy this documentary film—the music, the scenery, the actors, the citizens on the street and the story line are magnificent and factual."
Albert A. Fox, Jr., President Founder and President, Alliance for Responsible Cuba Policy FoundationSee https://www.bullfrogcommunities.com for a complete list of our titles. If you have questions, contact me at [email protected].
Coming Soon: PLEISTOCENE PARK features an eccentric Russian scientist's quixotic quest to recreate a vanished ice age ecosystem and save the world from a catastrophic global warming feedback loop. In REFLECTION: a walk with water filmmaker Emmett Brennan walks the length of the Los Angeles aqueduct in search of a vision for humanity worth living for—what he discovers has everything to do with water. A Black teenager is arrested for touching a white boy's arm! A CRIME ON THE BAYOU follows the unjustly arrested Black man and his young Jewish attorney as they take the case to the Supreme Court to fight for the right of all Americans to a fair trial.Regards,
Alex, Bullfrog Communities
[email protected]
A HOME CALLED NEBRASKA Resources
A HOME CALLED NEBRASKA Screening Resources
A HOME CALLED NEBRASKA
Screening Poster
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(customize for your event)
Screening Guide
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Press Stills
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ORGANIZATIONS
Refuge Empowerment Center We provide holistic and culturally effective refugee resettlement services that empower newcomers to thrive in their new lives.
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a non-profit organization that welcomes and supports refugees and migrants entering the United States.
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants works to protect the rights and address the needs of persons in forced or voluntary migration worldwide and support their transition to a dignified life.
Human Rights Watch’s Refugee Rights Program defends the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced people worldwide, responding to emergencies as well as chronic situations, focusing especially on documenting government efforts to block access to asylum, to deprive asylum seekers of rights to fair hearings of their refugee claims, and to the forcible return of people to places where their lives or freedom would be threatened.
FILMS
This is Home Sundance award-winner puts a human face on the global refugee crisis by providing an intimate portrait of four Syrian refugee families arriving in the US and struggling to find their footing.
Refuge: Caring for Survivors of Torture Refugees, asylees and caregivers share their stories to help professionals and volunteers understand the needs of the more than a million survivors of torture rebuilding lives in the US.
The Storytelling Class An after-school storytelling project in a diverse, but divided, city school breaks cultural boundaries and creates community.
Day One Traumatized Middle Eastern and African teen refugees are guided through a program of healing by devoted educators at a unique St. Louis public school for refugees only.
AWARE: GLIMPSES OF CONSCIOUSNESS Resources
AWARE: GLIMPSES OF CONSCIOUSNESS Screening Resources
AWARE
Screening Poster
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AWARE
Discussion Guide
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Press Stills
Download All
High-Resolution
Press Photos
Websites
Allen Institute for Brain Science
Matthieu Ricard, Ph.D, Tibetan-Buddhist Monk, Shechen Monastery, Nepal
Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University
Screening Tour featuring THE VOW FROM HIROSHIMA
We invite you to participate in a screening tour this spring and summer, featuring the film The Vow from Hiroshima. Booking dates are available through the end of August, which will coincide with commemorations of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th, and the UN meetings about the Non-Proliferation Treaty that month.
The film Director Susan Strickler and second generation survivor Mitchie Takeuchi will be available for in-person and virtual screening appearances, schedules permitting.
We're excited to work with you to bring this screening tour to your community. Please get in touch to partner with us to create an impactful, timely event with The Vow from Hiroshima film and the filmmakers!
Contact Us!
The Vow from Hiroshima is an intimate portrait of Setsuko Thurlow, an 85-year-old survivor of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and a passionate campaigner for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Her moving personal story and history of activism is told through the lens of her growing friendship with a second generation survivor, Mitchie Takeuchi.
Since Russia’s war on Ukraine began, we have heard Russian president Vladimir Putin make veiled threats of using nuclear weapons. In this time of international danger, it is evident to those with the courage to face the truth that humanity must banish nuclear weapons from the face of the earth. Those who have felt the multi-generational impact of nuclear weapons can be proud of Setsuko and inspired by her mission to bring this human understanding forward.
"Setsuko in speaking out as a survivor, brings to the world stage a discussion about individual moral choice and the human rights issues of nuclear arms. Most importantly, she wants to focus not on the devastation or survivor guilt but on the strength of survivors. And the endurance and patience required to do the hard and lonely work of working for peace. In this film you understand why Dr. Thurlow has been recognized globally for her lifelong activism and why she was chosen to accept the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the International Coalition to Abolish nuclear weapons."
Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi, President
Greater Toronto Chapter, National Association of Japanese Canadians"This is the film I would highly recommend for our younger generations to see. Actually this is a film I would like everyone in the world to see."
Matsui Kazumi, Mayor of the City of Hiroshima"Narrated through the experiences of two resilient hibakusha women, The Vow from Hiroshima is a well-researched, poignant and thoughtful work on the humanitarian approach to nuclear weapons. It is a fascinating story of how geopolitics and civil society intersects to influence policy, and how change is possible despite all odds."
Jayita Sarkar, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Boston University
THE VOW FROM HIROSHIMA can be used as a tool to educate, and is available for screenings, both in person and through our virtual screening platform, Bullfrog Communities Streaming. See Bullfrog Communities for a complete list of our titles. If you have questions, contact me at [email protected].
THE VOW FROM HIROSHIMA Screening Tour Request Form
THE VOW FROM HIROSHIMA is an intimate portrait of Setsuko Thurlow, an 85-year-old survivor of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and a passionate campaigner for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Her moving personal story and history of activism is told through the lens of her growing friendship with a second generation survivor, Mitchie Takeuchi.
Bullfrog Communities is now booking screening dates for THE VOW FROM HIROSHIMA Summer Screening Tour! Dates available through the end of August, which will coincide with commemorations of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Filmmakers Susan Strickler and Mitchie Takeuchi will be available for in-person and virtual screening appearances, schedules permitting.
Please provide the following information.
- Name of hosting organization, group, festival or theater (if applicable)
- In-Person, On Demand or On Time virtual community screening
- In-person or virtual filmmaker/speaker attendance
- One screening or a series of screenings
- Charging admission, free admission or accepting donations?
- For in-person screenings, list the screening date(s) or date range, and the start time (if applicable).
- For On Demand virtual screenings, list the screening date(s) or date range, and the start time (if applicable).
- For On Time virtual screenings, list the screening date(s) AND start time(s). Subject to availability.
Celebrate Earth Month with Environmental Films: Virtual Screenings Available!
In celebration of Earth Day, Bullfrog Communities, a project of Bullfrog Films, is ecstatic to announce the Earth Day Festival in a Box special for community and campus-wide screenings! Choose ANY combination of 3, 5 or 7 environmental films and hold a film festival or series of public screenings on your campus or in your community. You can charge admission or host free event to raise awareness about key issues to help spread and inspire change. It's up to YOU!
This year our special Festival in a Box deal is available for virtual events. For more information, please email us at [email protected]. On Time events are subject to availability.
All of our environmental titles are available for selection, including brand new releases THE SHADOW OF GOLD, THIRST FOR JUSTICE, MEAT THE FUTURE, ENTANGLED, and NATURE'S CLEANUP CREW. Also available for this special package offer are popular films such as NO FEAR NO FAVOR, INTO THE CANYON, POINT OF NO RETURN, CONNECTIVITY PROJECT, COOKED, FROM SEED TO SEED, PLANETARY, and many more.
Each new major award-winning film has a different, vital story to tell. THE SHADOW OF GOLD investigates the global social and environmental impacts of gold mining, by both the big-time mining companies that dig deep and lop off mountaintops to extract gold from low-grade ore, and the small-time miners who extract gold by hand, often producing just enough to survive; THIRST FOR JUSTICE follows community activist Janene Yazzie as she searches for the source of uranium contamination in her son's school's water in Sanders, Arizona, and finds common ground with those fighting for clean water in other areas of the United States — activists in Flint, Michigan and Standing Rock Water Protectors; MEAT THE FUTURE focuses on the CEO of Upside Foods, Mayo Clinic trained cardiologist Dr. Uma Valeti, and their "cultivated" meat revolution and how it could be a game-changing solution to the global, unsustainable hunger for meat and its impact on climate, animal welfare and public health; Best Feature Film at the International Wildlife Film Festival, ENTANGLED chronicles the efforts to protect North Atlantic right whales from extinction, the impacts of those efforts on the lobster industry, and how the National Marine Fisheries Service has struggled to balance the vying interests; and NATURE'S CLEANUP CREW examines the varied scavenging critters that naturally help recycle the waste our consumer society leaves behind.
These films are available both virtually and for in-person events. For more information on booking a virtual screening right now, please go to Bullfrog Communities Streaming.
Below is a list of primary recommendations from our new releases. Go to Earth Day Festival in a Box to see the special rates and book by April 30, 2022!
THE SHADOW OF GOLD (New release!)
An unflinching look at how the world's favorite heavy metal is extracted from the earth.
"A reminder that we are going to greater lengths — with more ecological and human collateral — to extract smaller amounts of gold. As an educator, I look for films like this one to convey complex, systematic problems through tangible stories of impacted communities. It's an informative look at the global network of drivers behind the large-and small-scale gold mining industries."
Mozhgon Rajaee, Assistant Professor of Public Health, Oakland University
"By shining a light on the possibilities for more sustainable practices, the film encourages viewers to strive to protect the purity of our environment, and, finally, to re-think the sort of luxury that comes in gold."
Maria Paula Serrano, Vancouver WeeklyTHIRST FOR JUSTICE (New release!)
Focuses on three battles for clean water—on the Navajo Reservation, in Flint Mich., and at Standing Rock — united in the belief that Water Is Life.
Best Documentary Feature, Gallup Film Festival
Nominee, Best Documentary Feature, Raindance Film Festival
Award of Merit Special Mention, Accolade Global Film Competition
"Powerful and disturbing. The US is the richest country in the world. It is an obscenity that we allow Indigenous Americans and poor and minority urban people - even when on municipal water supplies — to drink water so contaminated as to threaten their health and cognitive function. It is especially tragic when our children drink contaminated water that will increase their risk of cancer later in life and cause an irreversible loss of IQ that will last as long as they live."
David O. Carpenter, M.D., Director, Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany
"Opens eyes to the hard-hit communities at home in USA. The hollowed-out humanity of corporate spokespeople front unconvincingly for executives who refuse interviews. Locals speak powerfully about what this travesty means. The film points out - our survival is at stake and access to clean water is key." Randy Hayes, Founder, Rainforest Action NetworkMEAT THE FUTURE (New release!)
Follows Dr. Uma Valeti, co-founder of leading "cultivated" meat startup Upside Foods, as he and his team develop a game-changing solution to a global, unsustainable hunger for meat.
Hot Docs
Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival
Nominee, Best International Documentary & Best International Director, Melbourne International Documentary Film Festival
Crystal Pelican Award, Best Director, International Science Film Festival World of Knowledge
Best Picture Editing - Documentary, Directors Guild of Canada Awards
"Engrossing...Persuasive...Compelling...Elegantly simple and kind of mind-blowing."
Guy Lodge, Variety
"MEAT THE FUTURE is an inside look into a technology that has the potential to revolutionize our relationship not only to animals and our planet, but ourselves.”
Dr. Nina Gheihman, Sustainable Food Initiative, University of California Berkeley, Co-Founder, Plant Futures Initiative
“A fantastic documentary for anyone concerned about how our global food system is impacting climate change, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and social equity.”
Jessica Fanzo, Professor and Director of Global Food Policy and Ethics, Johns Hopkins UniversityENTANGLED (New release!)
How climate change has accelerated a collision between one of the world's most endangered species, N. America's most valuable fishery, and a federal agency mandated to protect both.
Best Non-Broadcast Film, Jackson Wild Media Awards
Best Feature Film, International Wildlife Film Festival
John de Graaf Environmental Filmmaking Award, Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Best Conservation Film, International Ocean Film Festival
"This powerful and effective film lays out two fundamental structural problems in current efforts at conservation as a whole: When we face tough challenges, we replace 'process' with results. ENTANGLED shows clearly that management measures need to be biologically effective, not just politically palatable."
Matthew McKenzie, Professor of History, University of Connecticut, Author, Breaking the Banks and Clearing the Coastline
"A brilliant film that brings the difficult conversations to the forefront, while encouraging a solutions-based approach by all sides that is urgently needed to help save our marine life, our oceans, and ultimately ourselves...[The film] presents the current plight of the North Atlantic Right Whale with a balanced perspective showcasing the complex and disturbing effects of climate change and human interaction on an already endangered species."
Ana Blanco, Executive Director, International Ocean Film FestivalNATURE'S CLEANUP CREW (New release!)
Examines the lives of ants, rats, opossums, foxes and vultures, who live among us in the world’s cities, recycling the mountains of waste we leave behind.
Animal Behavior Society Film Festival
"Reveals the hidden lives of critters in and around cities. This film is entertaining with a solid educational perspective that will engage students and the general public."
Mark Hostetler, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida
"Taken on a global journey, we learn the critical role these creatures hold in the urban centers they call home. NATURE'S CLEANUP CREW complements science topics like predator-prey relationships, biodiversity, and species decline. It allows students to see science skills in practice: designing and implementing investigations based on scientific inquiry, cause and effect relationships, and using technology to gather data. Indirectly, students see professionals collaborating to solve problems, struggling with complex issues, and using media to raise awareness. This communication about science is as vital as the science itself."
Jennifer Hammonds, Senior Manager, Curriculum and Instruction, Education and Engagement, National Wildlife FederationNO FEAR NO FAVOR
African communities on the front lines of the poaching crisis fight to protect their wildlife for future generations.
Filmmakers' Choice Award, Andrew Sabin Family Foundation Environmental Award, Hamptons DocFest
Outstanding Cinematography, Tallgrass International Film Festival
"Joyously hopeful and yet achingly sad, the documentary shows us that there is no longer time to take conservation efforts slowly. NO FEAR NO FAVOR shows the horrors of poaching in graphic detail juxtaposed with resilience and love. It reminds us that effective conservation requires participation and ownership in the local communities."
Muna Ndulo, Professor, International and Comparative Law, Director, Berger International Studies Program, Cornell UniversityINTO THE CANYON
Two Friends. 750 miles. One Question. If the Grand Canyon isn't worth saving, what is?
Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Nature Documentary>
Grand Prize, Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
Best Feature, Banff Mountain Film Festival
Director's Award, Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival
"More than just a beautiful and breathtaking outdoor adventure film, though it is that. The film raises questions that are critical and fundamental for understanding our place as humans in the world, questions that we all need to sit with."
Michael Paul Nelson, Professor of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy, Oregon State University, Co-editor, Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in PerilPOINT OF NO RETURN
Documents the journey of the Solar Impulse—the first solar-powered, round-the-world flight—demonstrating the tremendous potential of renewable energy sources.
CPH:DOX
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Hawaii International Film Festival
"Think we can't take on big technological challenges any longer? Believe our energy conundrum is hopeless? POINT OF NO RETURN proves otherwise! A stunningly beautiful and engaging film, POINT OF NO RETURN restores faith in human ingenuity, international cooperation, and our ability to reach new frontiers in sustainable energy."
Brian Black, Professor, History and Environmental Studies, Pennsylvania State University - Altoona, Editor, Energy and SocietyCONNECTIVITY PROJECT
A 3-part series of short films examining the ripple effects of our actions in an interconnected world.
Sustainability Award, Cinema Verde International Film & Arts Festival
Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival
Colorado Environmental Film Festival
"This is probably one of the most important projects on earth at this time. Its brilliance lies in its simplicity and its necessity. You have hit the core of not just the problem but of where we should all be focusing our attention. I was so deeply moved by this work."
Jean Houston, Co-Founder, The Foundation for Mind Research
"This series of short films provides inspiring stories and vignettes that support a greater awareness of the interrelated systems of life. The film series will be a great jumping off point for students, teachers, and community members who are interested in considering a range of environmental studies, stewardship activities, or advocacy that can make a difference."
Tori Derr, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, California State University Monterey BayCOOKED
Judith Helfand's searing investigation into the politics of "disaster," by way of the deadly 1995 Chicago heat wave.
Best Feature Film, EarthxFilm
Best Film, Environmental Film Festival at Yale
DOCNYC
"Shines a light on the issues of poverty, race, class, and education that underlie how natural disasters take lives."
Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
"Chronicles the painful truth that waiting for the government can be hazardous to your health. The twin vulnerability of poverty and race placed African Americans at special risk in the 1995 Chicago heat wave. In America, zip code is more important than genetic code and some people and communities have the wrong complexion for protection."
Dr. Robert D. Bullard, Professor, Urban Planning and Environmental Policy, Texas Southern University, Author, Race, Place, and Environmental Justice After Hurricane KatrinaFROM SEED TO SEED
Through a group of Canadian organic farmers we experience a full growing season with all of its rewards as well as the challenges of a changing climate.
Best of the Fest, Colorado Environmental Film Festival
Audience Choice Award, Soo Film Festival
Best Documentary Film, Popular Culture Association, DC
"This is one of the best documentary films about farming that I have watched."
Dr. Av Singh, Vice-President, Canadian Organic Growers
"Isn't a film focused on the evils of factory farming or the greed of big corporations; instead, it's an intimate and exalting look at the small family farm, the everyday hero of our food system."
Mother Nature Network
"A loving and enjoyable encouragement for anyone who cares about food and farming...I liked all the people featured in the film and the emphasis on community. It made me want to move to Canada."
Claire Hope Cummings, Author, Uncertain Peril: Genetic Engineering and the Future of SeedsPLANETARY
A provocative and breathtaking wakeup call - a cross continental cinematic journey that explores our cosmic origins and our future as a species.
World Premiere, SXSW
Award for Excellence, G2 Green Earth Film Festival
Hot Docs, Canadian International Documentary Film Festival Sheffield Doc/Fest
Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital
"Stunning...A most impressive logistical and aesthetic feat...It gradually moves toward a more philosophical call for change in how individuals and societies view themselves — as participants in, rather than consumers of, a unique and fragile ecosystem."
Dennis Harvey, Variety
"A gift to the rising consciousness among those who see and feel themselves as planetary citizens and for those who could benefit from such a worldview. Words of insight and wisdom from the thinkers progress here like poignant epigrams, each of which could front entire chapters of discourse."
Tyler Volk, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies, New York University, Author, Quarks to CultureSee https://www.bullfrogcommunities.com for a complete list of our titles. If you have questions, contact me at [email protected]. We look forward to helping you celebrate Earth Day!
