1:30 The Sacred Run: The Lotus and the Feather (Andrea Sadler; Cold Spring, NY) ***  (55 min.)

American Indian leader, Dennis Banks, with First Nation people from North America and Japan, were joined by volunteers from 13 countries on a ceremonial run finishing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The filmmaker, Andrea Sadler, joined the run, with camera in hand, to present a remarkable physical and spiritual journey of a diverse group of all ages, who voyaged 4,000 km along the Sea of Japan to carry the simple message, that All Life is Sacred. The film is a stunning inspirational portrait of individuals committed to promoting peace, encouraging respect for the earth and all life, and to sharing the rich cultural diversity of the human race.

2:45 Grown in Detroit: Teen Moms Become Urban Farmers (Mascha & Manfred Poppenk; Netherlands) (58 min.)

The home town of mass production is turning green again. The decline of the American auto industry has turned one of the nations wealthiest cities into one of the poorest. Nature has taken over abandoned lots, and the city is ‘greening’ from within. This new landscape is creating opportunities and hope for the city and its residents. Land that was used for farming a century ago has again been cultivated, this time by the urban farmer. This inspiring and well made documentary tells the story of a group of young women who are changing their individual futures and the future of the city.

4:00 Duo Duo and Xiao-Ming (Fengyu Hao; Elmhurst, NY) (2 min.)

"Duo Duo and Xiao-Ming" offers an entertaining and educational alternative to public school safety information. This 2D/3D animated short demonstrates the best course of action for earthquake safety by telling the story of Xiao-Ming and his robot panda Duo Duo's experience through an earthquake.

4:00 Dhamma Brothers: East Meets West in the Deep South (Jenny Phillips, Anne Marie Stein and Andrew Kakura; Alabama) (75 min.)

An overcrowded maximum-security prison - the end of the line in Alabama’s correctional system - is dramatically changed by the influence of an ancient meditation program. Behind high security towers and a double row of barbed wire and electrical fence dwells a host of convicts who will never see the light of day. But for some of these men, a spark is ignited when it becomes the first prison in North America to hold a Vipassana retreat, a deeply demanding course of silent meditation lasting 10 days. This film has the power to dismantle stereotypes about men behind prison bars. The New York Times called this “provocative” film “a thinking-head documentary about finding answers within for those who can’t get out.”

5:30-6:30 - Dinner by Heaven on Main Street; music by Conrad Mohar

6:30 Full of Soup (Yan Desjardins; Montreal, Canada) *** (French, English subtitles) (4:21 min.)

In this playful short film, Jean, an actor/waiter, is nervous about an upcoming audition. He fumbles his way to his client, a famous director, who enjoys toying with Jean.   

6:30 The Hole Thing (Grupo Humus; Argentina) (Spanish, English subtitles) (65 min.)

A primary school teacher tries to solve a problem related to physics: demonstrate the existence of the constant movement. To do so, he plans to dig a hole to cross to the other side of the world, inviting his students to be part of this dream as if it were a school homework. His wife, friends and everybody will be involved in this strange and funny project… This offbeat delight of a film, featuring gorgeous cinematography and a loveable protagonist, will be sure to leave you grinning.

8:00 City of Borders (Yun Suh; Berkeley, California) (66 min.)

In the heart of Jerusalem stands an unusual symbol of unity that defies generations of segregation, violence and prejudice: a gay bar called Shushan. This award-winning documentary goes inside this underground sanctuary where people of opposing nationalities, religions and sexual orientations create an island of peace in a land divided by war.

9:30 El Regalo de la Pachamama (Toshifumi Matsushita; NYC/Bolivia/Japan) (Spanish, English subtitles) (101 min.)

On Bolivia's inland salt sea (the Salar de Uyuni), 13-year-old Kunturi and his family cut bricks of salt by hand, which they use to barter for goods. The Quecha people have lived and worked close to the land for centuries (the term Pachamama means Mother Earth). It's not an easy life, but still rich with friends and family. When Kunturi's grandmother falls ill, his father decides to take his son on the almost four-month journey along the salt trail (the Ruta de la Sal). Their first stop is the Potosi mine to find a friend's long-absent father. As tragedy and joy commingle, Kunturi is forced to confront the complexities of adult life, including death, suffering and, most sweetly and powerfully of all, first love. Stunningly beautiful, both in it's visual and dramatic aspects, this award-winning docudrama is a filmgoer's rare treat.