Documentary Film Festival

- By Emma Gomes, Staff Writer -

Meredith College will be hosting its fifth annual Documentary Film Festival on Jan. 28, 2018. The festival is a free event open to the public and will be held in Carswell Auditorium, located in the Wainwright Music Building. Sponsored by the Meredith English Department and Carlyle Campbell staff, the festival will run from 2 pm until 5:30 pm.

This year’s Documentary Film Festival will consist of nine short films which range from topics including immigration, the death penalty, and the effects of plastic pollution. Dr. Johnson, Professor of English, offers insight into the kinds of documentaries that will be shown: “We try to celebrate women filmmakers and regional stories. All of the stories being showcased have been rooted in the South, and a number of them are funded by the Southern Documentary Fund which funds films about the South” she states, “but this year, the showcase is not only regional but actually international, with a North Carolina intersection, of course.”

The day will be broken up into three distinct blocks at 2 pm, 3:30 pm, and 4:30 pm with question and answer sessions after each segment. At 3:30 pm, a screening of the documentary titled Straws will be showcased, which sheds light on the effects of plastic pollution and the efforts that certain activists are making to undo those effects. Students are not required to attend every documentary on the schedule although Dr. Johnson states that “if students are having trouble choosing which films to view, I highly recommend Straws,” Following the film, Linda Booker, the filmmaker, will be present to talk about her experience and to answer any questions. At 4:30 pm, two Meredith students will showcase their documentaries and will stay after to answer any questions.

If you are unable to attend the Documentary Film Festival this weekend, Carlyle Campbell Library purchases all of the films so students have access to them. You will be able to check them out on your own time. Drinks and free popcorn will be offered at the actual event.