Films That Matter CSW68

SEATS AVAILABLE!

Join us for a special screening and discussion presented by the Macaulay Honors College and the NGO International Film Festival to commemorate the UN Women 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), showcasing urgent and powerful stories from around the world.

These films delve into themes of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, in connection with family, history, identity, and social justice context within the backdrop of political upheaval. They highlight the talent and vision of remarkable filmmakers adept at crafting compelling narratives using both documentary and fiction techniques.

Don’t miss the chance to experience these impactful films and engage in a lively conversation with the filmmakers, political leaders, civil society practitioners and experts. The screening and discussion will be held between the 12th – 14th of March 2024, 3pm-7pm, at 35 West 67th Street, NY, NY 10023. Reserve your seat now to be part of this unique event.

SCHEDULE

Son-Mother

Iran | 2019 | 102 min
Director: Mahnaz Mohammadi

Venue: Macaulay Honors College
Date: Tuesday, 12th of March | 3pm

Synopsis: Leila is a single working mom of two. The factory she works at faces a crisis and jobs are at stake. Kazem, the factory bus driver, proposes marriage to Leila, but she hesitates to accept his conditions. Kazem has a daughter the same age as her 12-year-old son, Amir, and since tradition frowns upon a young girl sharing a household with her step-brother, Kazem tells Leila not to bring her son until he marries his daughter off. After Leila is fired from her job, she makes the decision to stay with Kazem and leave Amir at a boarding school for deaf children for a while she tries to manage his return. There, Amir is forced to pretend he’s deaf-and-dumb, and after a few months tries to run away to search for his mother. On the run, he faces Kazem who asks him to think about his family`s future. Amir has to decide.

FOLLOWED BY PANEL DISCUSSION: Hacia Atherton (Founder, Empowered Women in Trade); Amina Hersi (Head of Gender Rights and Justice Oxfam International), Dr Jemimah Njuki (Chief, Economic Empowerment UN Women); Mahnaz Mohammadi (Film Director, Son-Mother).

Tomorrow Ever After

USA/Israel | 2018 | 85 mins
Director: Ela Thier

Venue: Macaulay Honors College
Date: Wednesday, 13th of March | 3pm

Synopsis: In this sci-fi comedic drama, Shaina lives 600 years in the future. Poverty, oppression, war, pollution – these are things that she’s read about in history books – but never seen or experienced. When she accidentally time travels to modern day New York City, she tries to recruit help to get back home, while naturally assuming that everyone around her would be honest, caring, and generous – because that’s all she’s ever known. A different kind of culture-shock immigration story.

FOLLOWED BY PANEL DISCUSSION: Fionna Smyth (Director of Influence and Growth, Development Initiatives); Memory Kachambwa (Executive Director, FEMNET); Ela Thier (Founding Director, The Independent Film School & Film Director, Tomorrow Ever After).

Rosa

USA/Palestine | 2020 | 23 mins
Director: Suha Araj

Venue: Macaulay Honors College
Date: Thursday, 14th of March | 3pm

Synopsis: While working at her aunt’s flower shop, Rosa takes her job underground when she begins a side business of shipping undocumented bodies to their home countries for burial.

FOLLOWED BY PANEL DISCUSSION: Dinah Musindarwezo (Interim CEO, WomanKind Worldwide); Mita Hosali (Deputy Director, News and Media, United Nations); Suha Araj (Film Director, Rosa).