BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES — Our opening-night film is an unsettling yet inspiring look at corporate control of the pop music "industry", in which a few companies determine what people can hear on the radio and buy in stores — even as there are more new bands and more ways to discover, see, and hear them than ever. Will corporate greed commodify our musical culture and silence creativity and diversity?
Includes interviews and performances by Erykah Badu, Calexico, Elvis Costello, Branford Marsalis, Dave Matthews Band, My Morning Jacket, Questlove, Bonnie Raitt, Widespread Panic, and other artists. Narrated by actor Forrest Whittaker. Directed by Andrew Shapter. (USA, 2006, 95 minutes)
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION — The world premiere of a provocative and often hilarious exploration of the battle being waged in the courts, in the media industry, in academia, and on the Internet between people and corporations for control over the cultural commons. Directed by Jeremy Smith (USA, 2007, 60 minutes) "[S]martly made and seriously funny ... ."
THE METHOD (El Metodo) — This year's centerpiece narrative (fictional) film explores a dog-eat-dog struggle in a large Spanish multinational corporation, where seven people are competing against each other for a senior position. The catch is that one of the candidates is secretly conducting the Survivor-like "interview" process, in which the competitors effectively eliminate each other until only one is left to get the job. Written by Mateo Gil (Vanilla Sky, The Sea Inside) and directed by Marcelo Piñeyro (Spain, 2007, 115 minutes)
OVERDRAWN! — In the tradition of Morgan Spurlock's Supersize Me and Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story comes this chronicle of one man's valiant struggle against the exploitative practices of the modern banking industry. Does citizen David have any hope to defeat Goliath, Inc.? Directed by and starring first-time filmmaker Karney Hatch (USA, 2007, 77 minutes)
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND — This year's closing-night film is the San Francisco premiere of a startling, often hilarious exploration of the corporate takeover of American life. Over the course of three years, the filmmakers traveled across the United States interviewing award-winning authors, historians, media pundits, and ordinary citizens about the impact of corporate power on nearly every aspect of people’s daily lives, our social fabric, and the principles of democracy.
The film celebrates small acts of resistance by everyday citizens in unique, funny, and inspiring ways. "A must-see documentary" – Atlanta Journal-Constitution Directed by Lori Cheatle and Daisy Wright (USA, 2006, 82 minutes)
WE FEED THE WORLD — Traces the flow of food and cash in the vast, interconnected, and yet surprisingly compartmentalized international food system, ranging from farmers and fishers to agronomists and corporate executives. Captures the irrationality of scarcity amid excess in unforgettable images. Directed by Erwin Wagenhofer (Austria, 2007, 96 minutes). In French, German, and Portugese with English subtitles. Preceded by the narrative shorts A Drop of Life (17:00) and A Little Musical Day (13:30)
"The absurdities of a globalized food industry ... illustrated with jaw-dropping efficacy"
"Citizen Film: Putting the 'Me' in Media"
20 Years Without Justice (16:00)
Eramet Marietta Neighbors Speak Out (25:00)
Fuera (26:00)
Gassing the Big Sky (34:00)
"No Boss, No Loss"Civilizing the Economy: The Co-op Alternative (27:00)
Made in the USA: American Worker Cooperatives (35:00)
Democracy in the Workplace (27:00)
Corporate Film Festival — and remember to buy local!