Special Screening on Art House Theater Day, 9/24, with panel discussion presented by the Bijou Film Board.
"
Whether it's the 'best' documentary of 2017 is a matter of opinion. But it is assuredly the most vital." -Rolling Stone
"'Whose Streets?' doesn't pretend to solve any problems, only illuminate those that are happening everyday. It's a documentary that lives and breathes in the here and now." -Detroit News
"It represents the spirit of something more powerful than a bullet, the seed of something good springing from a terrible and unjust event. A brash example of guerrilla filmmaking." -TIME
Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, Whose Streets? is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising. When unarmed teenager Michael Brown is killed by police and left lying in the street for hours, it marks a breaking point for the residents of St. Louis, Missouri. Grief, long-standing racial tensions and renewed anger bring residents together to hold vigil and protest this latest tragedy. Empowered parents, artists, and teachers from around the country come together as freedom fighters. As the national guard descends on Ferguson with military grade weaponry, these young community members become the torchbearers of a new resistance. Filmmakers Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis know this story because they are the story. Whose Streets? is a powerful battle cry from a generation fighting, not for their civil rights, but for the right to live.
Panelists:
Kingsley Botchway II has lived in Iowa City since he moved here in 2007 to attend the UI College of Law. Currently a member of the Iowa City Council, he has previously participated in the Juvenile Justice Youth Development Board, the Citizens' Police Review Board, and Iowa City's Ad Hoc Diversity Committee.
Timothy Havens is a professor of Communication Studies, African American Studies, and International Studies at the University of Iowa, where he also serves as chair of the Department of Communication Studies. He is the author of Black Television Travels: African American Media Around the Globe (NYU Press, 2013) and Global Television Marketplace (British Film Institute Publishing, 2006); co-author with Amanda D. Lotz of Understanding Media Industries (Oxford University Press, 2011, 2016); and co-editor with Aniko Imre and Katalin Lustyik of Popular Television in Eastern Europe Before and Since Socialism (Routledge, 2012). He is also a former Senior Fulbright Scholar to Hungary.
Dr. Melissa Tully is a professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University, specializing in news media literacy, international communication, and social media. Dr. Tully's research explores how digital media is used for social, political, and civic engagement. She received an Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Interdisciplinary Research Grant in 2015 and is actively involved with the SJMC Fundraising and Philanthropy Communication Certificate program.
Deborah Elizabeth Whaley is an artist, curator, and writer. She is currently Senior Scholar for Digital Arts and Humanities Research for the Digital Scholarship and Publishing Studio (DSPS) and Professor of American and African American Studies at the University of Iowa.