In an age where stories of dead D-list celebrities and Britney Spears’ buzz cuts and baby blunders are breaking news, the media landscape is found wanting for something a little more substantial. Luckily, there exists the noble documentary, which has thankfully become ever-more popular in the post-Fairenheit 9-11 mainstream media. Bringing lesser known world issues to pop-culture’s forefront, the documentary has proved to be a life-preserver for an increasingly dull, apathetic media.
For the past four years, Movies that Matter, the pet project of the University of Calgary’s Trimedia organizations (CJSW, the Gauntlet and NUTV) and the Epcor Centre, has flourished under these conditions, being the fount for current and award-winning docs. Held every first Monday of the month for the past year at the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts Engineered Air Theatre, MTM is back on campus for a mini film festival, running Mar. 14-16.
“Movies that Matter is known for provocative and timely documentaries,” says film programmer and MTM co-founder Andy Eyck. “The specific films we’ve chosen [for the festival] deal with terrorism, human rights, social justice and the situation the world finds itself in today.”
This year’s lineup looks to be of the usual high caliber, and boasts several films ranging from political to artistic.
Wednesday, March 14th (ST 148)
6 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – State of Fear:
The Truth About Terrorism
8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – The Fall of Fujimori
Thursday, March 15th (MFH 162)
6 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Kurt Cobain: About a Son
8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Pirate Radio USA
Friday, March 16th (MFH 162)
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. – The Empire in Africa
Check out www.moviesthatmatter.org.