The University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) and Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students (APUS) have launched Cinema Politica UofT, a free documentary film series, screening Thursday nights at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Based out of Montreal, Cinema Politica is a network of political documentary film enthusiasts worldwide that organize free screenings for the public.
Cinema Politica UofT is the newest local to be added to the Cinema Politica network, only months following the launch of a highly successful monthly series at Toronto's Bloor Cinema. Student organizers launched the UofT local in response to a need for additional free events that engage the public in important political issues that are largely under-represented in mainstream media.
“Students at the University of Toronto recognized the need for an ongoing discussion of political issues that are being misrepresented by mainstream media,” states Erin Oldynski, representative for the UofT GSU and co-founder of Cinema Politica UofT. “During the month of February alone we are screening films on the fight for Tamil independence, the first female to hijack an airplane, and a joint Israeli-Palestinian documentary on non-violent resistance.”
The film screenings are always followed by a facilitated discussion with members of the community who are engaged in issues that relate to the film screening. According to Jessica Denyer, Vice President External at APUS and Co-founder of CinemaPoliticaUofT, “We are not just watching films, we are also bringing in community groups to discuss the issues raised by the documentaries. This is not just a project of passively watching films, it's also about education to take action, whether collectively or as individuals.”
Cinema Politica UofT invites all students and community members to the next free film screening, a double feature of My Daughter the Terrorist, an award-winning documentary about two female soldiers fighting for Tamil independence and Leila Khaled: Hijacker, a powerful film about the first woman to hijack an airplane in 1969 as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The screening begins at 8pm on Thursday, February 21 at OISE in room 5150. OISE is located at 252 Bloor Street West in Toronto and is wheelchair accessible.
Films have been scheduled from February until the end of May 2013, when organizers will solicit feedback from the audience to select films for the remainder of the year. Visit the full film schedule of University of Toronto Cinema Politica.
For More Information or Accessibility Needs, Please Contact:
Erin Oldynski, External Commissioner
Graduate Students’ Union, University of Toronto
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