Above Us, the Sky (2015)
Director: Lin Li; documentary 40 minutes, Q&A via Skype
4/2/2016 @ 12pm: US Premiere A film portrait of peace activist Brian Quail, a retired teacher in Glasgow who has been campaigning against nuclear weapons for decades and engages in non-violent direct actions. The film includes conversations that consider the meaning of his actions and what constitutes peace. Extracts from these conversations are combined with images of Brian's actions and of his home - his intimate space which reveals his values, ideals and identity.
Threshold: Whispers of Fukushima (2015)
Director: Toko Shiiki, Documentary 90 min, Q&A with Director
4/2/16 @ 1pm: NY Premiere Unlike the United States, where the population has always moved with frequency, people in other countries, including Japan, feel very tied to the place of their birth; where their ancestors called 'home.' So it is with great difficulty that people have left their homes in the Fukushima area after the nuclear disaster of 2011. But many stayed or have returned, and this is a film celebrating the joys of their lives and what gives them the strength to remain.
I Am Still Alive (2015)
Director: Camille Bildsoe, Documentary 14 minutes, Q&A with Director
4/2/2016 @ 3pm: US premiere After being shot by Israeli soldiers while observing a peaceful protest by the wall, a Palestinian teen finds meaning and peace by training in acrobatics as a performer in a traveling circus.
America 1979 (2014)
Director: Lila Yomtoob, Narrative Short 14 minutes, Q&A with Director
4/2/2016 @ 3pm: A 9 year old Iranian American and her family deal with prejudice and hatred in the immediate aftermath of the Iran hostage crisis of 1979.
Out of the Shadows (2012)
Director: Juan Galindo, Documentary 15 minutes, Q&A with Kat Chua
4/2/2016 @ 3pm: Kat Chua is just one of thousands of children brought to the U.S. without papers by a parent or, in her case, grandparent. But her struggles, fears, shame and hopes are widely shared by that community. This short film chronicles her coming of age and to terms with her situation, spurred on by advocacy of the DREAM Act.
Inheritance (2015)
Director: Junichi Inoue; Documentary 86 minutes, Q&A via Skype
4/2/2016 @ 5pm: US Premire. A son returns to the farm to help his parents keep the farm profitable only to have the Fukushima disaster completely up-end their progress. Despondent, the father commits suicide. The film is the son's reflection on the entire situation. (邦題『大地を受け継ぐ』）
Paths of Glory (1957)
Director: Stanley Kubrick, Drama 90 min
4/2/2016 @ 7pm: During World War 1, a French commanding officer order his subordinate to attack a German trench position, offering a promotion as an incentive. Though the mission is foolhardy to the point of suicide the subordinate orders his own subordinate, Colonel Dax, played by Kirk Douglas, to plan the attack. When it ends in disaster the commander demands the court-martial and execution of three random soldiers in order to save face.
Pictures from Hiroshima Schoolyard (2013)
Director: Bryan Reichhardt, Documentary 82 min, Q&A with Director
4/3/2016 @ 1pm: NY Premier. A collection of surprisingly joyful drawings created by school children living among the ruins of Hiroshima in 1947 becomes the heart of this inspiring story about an exchange of gifts between American and Japanese after a devastating war. This film about the power of gift introduces us to the children artists, now in their late 70s, who reflect on their early lives amidst the rubble of their destoryed city and the hope they shared through the art.
Beyond the Divide (2014)
Director: Jan Selby, Documentary 84 min.
4/3/2016 @ 3pm: In Missoula, Montana, a mysterious graffiti peace symbol inflamed an enduring animosity, dividing a community for decades. Through the courageous acts of a Vietnam veteran and a peace advocate, this film illuminates a path to healing old wounds and demonstrates authentic peace building. The story inspires audiences to take courageous first steps to reach beyond polarization in search of what unites us instead of what divides us.
dRaw not War (2015)
Director: Matteo Valenti, Documentary 62 minutes, Q&A with Director
4/3/2016 @ 5pm: NY Premier.Teenagers from both sides of three conflict zones are brought together to draw what peace looks like.