Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Amy Berg presents a candid look at the work and challenges of modern day feminist activism.
Festival Section:
Special Events
Sundance Program Description:
The Women’s March mobilized millions of women to protest after the inauguration of President Trump. But working across ideologies to combat injustice has its challenges. Academy Award-nominated director Amy Berg returns to the Sundance Film Festival with an insider look at the struggle for intersectional activism among the Women’s March leadership.
Berg captures the collaborative organizing process and hopeful energy of the first marches in 2017 and spends time behind the scenes highlighting the sustained work that happens after the crowds subside. For Women’s March co-president Tamika Mallory and community-organizing leader Erika Andiola, the march is only the tip of the iceberg of their broader activism – Andiola championing immigration rights and Mallory protesting gun violence. When Mallory comes under fire for her affiliations with Minister Louis Farrakhan, a powerful conversation between Mallory and Rabbi Rachel Timoner opens up a dialogue about intersectional leadership.
In light of the recent controversy around four of the Women’s March leaders, including Mallory, Berg’s film offers a timely springboard for a discussion on issues that have plagued the women’s movement for a century.
Some Background:
Director:
Past Sundance docs:
PROPHET’S PREY (2015)
WEST OF MEMPHIS (2012)
BHUTTO (2010)
This is the sixth feature doc from the Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning Berg. She most recently directed two episodes of the Netflix docuseries DOGS.
Producers:
This is the first Sundance credit for McGuire, who has a background producing for television, including, most recently, DOGS.
Past Sundance docs:
SKY LADDER: THE ART OF CAI GUO-QIANG (2016)
Mital is an Emmy-winning producer for the sports doc WE COULD BE KING.
Anonymous Content’s Gorman Wettels was a co-executive producer for the Sundance fiction feature alum THE SON OF NO ONE. She focuses on creating content for women and young people that has a positive social impact. Gorman Wettels also executive produces the acclaimed Netflix and Paramount Television series 13 REASONS WHY.
Walker is a feminist author, activist, teacher, and co-founder of the Third Wave Foundation. Her mother is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker.
Editors:
Past Sundance docs:
AMERICAN PROMISE (2013)
This marks the first Sundance credit for both Gibson and Wuerker.
Why You Should Watch:
Berg’s film comes at a critical time in modern feminist activism, offering access, and, perhaps, understanding about the reasons for Mallory’s controversial stance, as well as more expansive insight into the movement’s mission, scope, and challenges.
More Info:
For Sundance screening dates and times, click the film title in the first paragraph.
