Imagenation presents its fourth annual Harlem Outdoor Film Festival this month. On Aug. 8 and 15, from 7:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Imagenation will screen films outdoors at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Harlem State Office Building Plaza, 125th Street and Seventh Avenue. The free screenings feature independent films from the African diaspora.

Favela Rising, which will be screened today, tells the true story of drug dealer Anderson Sá, as he undergoes a personal transformation that moves him to rally his community to counteract the violent oppression enforced by teenage drug armies and sustained by corrupt police. This winner of 24 film awards–including Best Emerging Documentary Filmmaker at New York City’s Tribeca Film Festival–has garnered as much praise for its sound track as for its cinematography. Visit the film’s website for info on additional screenings across the country.

On Wednesday, June 14th, at 7 PM, join the Peace Action of New York State for the newest film by Iran’s most famous film maker, Dariush Mehrjui as well as Persian snacks and a presentation by PANYS Executive Director, Melissa Van, who just returned from a two week peace-making trip in Iran.

Cantor Film Center at New York Univ.
36 East 8th Street
$50 Film & Reception; $35 Film Only
Order tickets by phone: 212-629-1789

Hot news from the College Democrats:

Panel on “How Far Are We From MLK’s Dream?”
Monday, April 3rd, 2006, at 7 PM
Roone Arledge Cinema, Lerner Hall
West 115th Street and Broadway

Columbia Democrats are co-sponsoring a panel discussion on the topic “How Far Are We From MLK’s Dream?” with panelists such as Professors Manning Marable, Robert Lieberman, Eric Foner and others to be announced! Contact College Democrats at jab2069@columbia.edu with your questions for the discussion, whether it be for any of the panelists in particular or for everyone. College Democrats will collect the most intriguing questions and make sure to include them at the event.

Yet another wonderful screening:

Screening of “Darfur Diaries: A Message from Home.”
Tuesday, April 4th, 2006, at 9 PM
Roone Arledge Cinema, Lerner Hall
West 115th Street and Broadway

On October 19th, 2004, the team of three filmmakers–Aisha Bain, Jen Marlowe and Adam Shapiro–left for Darfur, Sudan and eastern Chad. After watching woefully inadequate media coverage on the crisis for months, their goal was to provide a platform for the people of Darfur (both those displaced inside Darfur and those living in refugee camps in Chad) to speak for themselves about their experiences, their fears, and their hopes for the future.

For more information about “Darfur Diaries: Message from Home,” please visit http://www.darfurfilm.org.

Following the film one of the filmmakers will be available for a Q & A session.

A free screening tomorrow! This just in from the Political Science Department:

Screening of Shirley Chisholm ‘72
With Director Shola Lynch and State Senator Kevin Parker
Friday, March 31st, 2006, at 7:15 PM
304 Barnard Hall, Barnard College

The critically acclaimed film about Columbia graduate Shirley Chisholm, the first serious female or African-American presidential candidate in the United States. The screening wil be followed by a Q & A session with Director Shola Lynch and Senator Kevin Parker. Free pizza and refreshments will be provided.

This event is co-sponsored by Black Students Organization, Columbia University College Democrats, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Campus Progress and Working Families Party.

Next Monday, April 3rd, two film screenings will take place in the community. First comes “The Harder They Come” screening in Teachers College:

“The Harder They Come” Film Screening
Monday, April 3rd, 2006, at 4:30 PM
Thompson 136, Teachers College

Join the Black Student Network, the Center for African Education and the Office of International Students at Teachers College for a film screening and discussion of “The Representation of Jamaica in the Eyes of the World” facilitated by Ed.M. candidate Winston Thompson. Delightful West Indian refreshments will be served!

Then “Innocent Voices” screening and panel with screewriter Oscar Torres:

“Innocent Voices” Film Screening and Expert Panel
Discussion with screenwriter Oscar Torres

Monday, April 3rd, 2006, at 5:30 PM
103 Jerome Greene Hall, Columbia Law School
435 West 116th Street (at Amsterdam Avenue)
Dinner will be provided

About 300,000 children currently participate in armed conflicts in over 30 countries on nearly every continent. Innocent Voices turns this statistic into reality through the story of an 11 year old boy caught up in El Salvador’s civil war. Screenwriter Oscar Torres will talk about his film and his childhood, on which it is based. The discussion then will be broadened with the help of Columbia faculty, students and graduates who have worked with children in war and other violent situations.

Although we cannot attend both, delightful refreshments will be served at either!