The 2020 lineup for “Indie Lens Pop-Up” begins with “Always in Season,” an exploration of the impact of lynching in America.
A free screening of the film, followed by a panel discussion, is 6 p.m. Jan. 21, in the Swanson Auditorium of the Nebraska Union at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1400 R St.
“Always in Season” documents how descendants of the victims and perpetrators of lynching are working together to heal a violent history. Blending observational footage with first-person testimonies and expert input, the film examines the lingering impact of lynching and the link between this historic form of racial terrorism and the racial violence that exists today. “Always in Season” was directed by Jacqueline Olive.
This free “Indie Lens Pop-Up” presentation was made possible by ITVS, “Independent Lens” and NET, in partnership with UNL Student Affairs and the “Dish it Up!” discussion during MLK Week, which honors the life and service of Martin Luther King Jr.
The 2020 “Indie Lens Pop-Up” season’s films center around the question: What’s your vision for your neighborhood? As communities experience increased polarization and division, “Indie Lens Pop-Up” events provide a gathering place to watch and discuss “Independent Lens” documentaries at hundreds of events hosted by partners across the nation. Over the past decade, nearly 6,500 “Indie Lens Pop-Up” events have brought together an estimated 370,000 participants to discuss issues that impact local communities. Lincoln is among 65 cities in the U.S. showing these films, which include:
“Decade of Fire” – In the 1970s, fires raged through the South Bronx. Abandoned by landlords and city officials, nearly a half-million residents were displaced from their beloved neighborhood. With the help of fellow survivors, filmmakers and Bronx native Vivian Vázquez Irizarry tells the story of the residents who banded together amidst the rubble and built a better future for their community. The film was directed by Vivian Vázquez Irizarry, Gretchen Hildebran and Julia Steele Allen.
“The First Rainbow Coalition” – In 1969, the Chicago Black Panther Party began to form a multi-ethnic coalition with the Young Lords Organization and the Young Patriots. Banding together in one of the most segregated cities in post-war America, the Rainbow Coalition changed the face of 1960s Chicago politics and created an organizing model for future activists and politicians. The film was directed by Ray Santisteban.
“Bedlam” – Filmmaker and practicing psychiatrist, Ken Rosenberg visits emergency rooms, jails and homeless camps to examine our national mental health crisis. Rosenberg follows the poignant stories of people grappling with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other chronic psychiatric conditions, whose silence and shame often worsen the suffering. The film was directed by Kenneth Paul Rosenberg.
“Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project” – Marion Stokes recorded television 24 hours a day for 30 years. It started in 1979 with the dawn of the 24-hour news cycle and ended when Marion passed away in 2012. In total, Marion recorded on 70,000 VHS tapes, capturing revolutions, lies, wars, triumphs, and catastrophes that tell us who we were and how television has shaped the world of today. The film was directed by Matt Wolf.
“Indie Lens Pop-Up” is a neighborhood screening series that brings people together for community-driven conversations around documentaries from the award-winning PBS series, “Independent Lens” on NET. For more information, visit here.
