Park City Film Series // Free Films That Connect Our Community
Calling all film junkies! Park City Film Series has some exciting free film screenings and events this month in addition to their regularly scheduled programming.
Real Boy will be screened Thursday, May 10 at the Jim Santy Auditorium. Presented in partnership with Planned Parenthood Utah, Real Boy is an intimate story of a family in transition. As 19-year-old Bennett Wallace navigates sobriety, adolescence, and the evolution of his gender identity, his mother makes her own transformation from resistance to acceptance of her trans son. “I loved this film because it talks about Bennett's transformation, but it also paints this really lovely picture of how people in the transgender community support each other, and how families can support their transgender children” explains Kathleen Stone, Park City Film Series Program and Marketing Coordinator. They will host a panel discussing how people can be more supportive of transgender youth after the screening.
The Park City Film Series makes it a priority to offer a portion of their programs for free, and makes an effort to connect films to our community. “Every year, about 34% of our programming is free, including the programs offered through our Reel Community Series. The Reel Community Series is our Thursday evening series, in which we partner with other local non-profits to present films that elevate our partners' missions. For example, Planned Parenthood works to provide inclusive sexual education and health for the LGBT community, so a film like Real Boy helps them elevate their mission of providing sexual health to the transgender community” notes Kathleen.
A free screening of Lila's Book/El Libro de Lila is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 at 4pm. This is part of the Dual Language Immersion Film Program in partnership with Park City Library. Lila, a character in a children's story book, suddenly falls out of her paper world and ends up trapped in a place she doesn't belong. And so begins this great adventure, where Lila discovers that the only person who can save her is Ramon, her best friend. “I loved this film as well. It was the first full-length animated film directed by a woman from Columbia. The animation is really inspired by Hayao Miyazaki, so it's bright and colorful and fantastic. Plus, there are important themes of preserving memories and cultures, and Colombian folklore is woven throughout the film. The film is simple enough for young kids to follow along, but people of all ages can enjoy the artwork of the animation and the themes of the story” explains Kathleen. The film will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles as part of the Foreign Cinema...For Kids! Program.
Finally, a free screening of Mind/Game: The Unquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw will be held on Thursday, May 17 at 6:30pm. From the rough-edged courts of New York City, Chamique Holdsclaw was hailed as the “female Michael Jordan,” impressing crowds with her artistry, athleticism and drive. A 3-time NCAA champ and Number One draft pick in the WNBA, Holdsclaw seemed destined for a spectacular professional career—until her long-suppressed battle with mental disorders emerged to derail her career and threaten her life.
Mind/Game intimately chronicles Holdsclaw’s athletic accomplishments and personal setbacks, and her decision, despite public stigma, to become an outspoken mental health advocate. This film is presented with CONNECT Summit County as part of the Brainstorm Film Festival. “CONNECT Summit County aims to increase dialogue about mental health, so Mind/Game is a film that allows them to do so” notes Kathleen. “We're particularly excited because Chamique will be joining us for a Q&A after the film, which will be moderated by Dr. Ben Belnap, Associate Superintendent of Student Wellness, Park City School District.”
Prepare to be inspired by film this May. Take advantage of the free programs and learn more about Park City Film Series at parkcityfilmseries.com.