Since 2009, CLIFF has been screening films about workers, the conditions under which they live and work, and related social justice issues, in over 130 locations across Canada.

Admission: Pay What You Will – FREE popcorn!

The Halifax screening will feature five international short films celebrating workers.

The total run time of the event is 55 minutes. The screening will be followed by a short open discussion.

Azadeh

9.5 min drama from Iran and Director Mirabbas Khosravinezhad
Azadeh, a young girl living in a small village with her family, wants
go to city to visit her father, but her mother and brother won’t allow
it…

A Radiant Sphere

9.5 min documentary from Canada and Director Sara Wylie
The filmmaker discovers a long lost family member, the Canadian Communist poet and political prisoner, Joe Wallace. Her research journey reveals his fascinating life and work, and some surprising things they share in common.

The Glasgow Women Strike

11 min documentary from Switzerland and Directors Leo David Hyde and Nathalie Berger. After decades of earning less than their male counterparts, Glasgow’s female cooks, cleaners and caregivers launch the biggest Equal Pay Strike in UK History.

24-Hour Workday

14.5 min documentary from the US and Director Zishun Ning
Home care workers are forced to work grueling 24-hour shifts taking care of seriously-ill patients, with only half of the pay. When they try to fight back through legislative means, they meet obstacles from the State government which tries to legalize such inhumane practice.

Zero

9 min drama from Spain and Director David Macian Montesinos
Once upon a time, there was a town where nobody drank Coca-cola…

The post PSA: Canadian Labour International Film Festival, November 12 appeared first on Nova Scotia Advocate.

Kicked-off on May 1st, International Workers’ Day, the festival features artistic events with themes of social and environmental justice. Over its nine years the event has grown into a diverse and high quality arts festival.

“We’re very excited about this year’s program, everything from performance art, film, an audiovisual installation to theater, music, and dance. Shows will tackle themes of workers rights, feminism, race justice and decolonization,” says Labelle.

But first, the Canadian Labour International Film Festival

That’s all Labelle will say about the actual program at this time. For program details you will have to attend this Monday evening’s Canadian Labour International Film Festival (CLIFF).

Between announcements nine short films curated by CLIFF will be screened on this evening.

 “There will be documentaries, animated  films, live action films, one movie features live puppetry,” says Labelle.  

“Different countries, different stories, but what they have in common is the shared experience of workers. The intent is that audiences, as workers here in Nova Scotia, recognize themselves a bit in each film that we present.”

https://vimeo.com/130663138

The films that will be shown are Armenian Papers (Belgium); Baits and Hooks (Switzerland); I Am a Machine (Canada); Strike 16 (Canada); A Living Wage (US); The Real Work (US); The Age of Reason (France); The Migrants (Brazil); and They Call Us Maids (UK).

And it’s free! That said, donations in support of Mayworks, the Bus Stop Theatre and CLIFF will be much appreciated.

I’ll trade you Muriel Duckworth for Anna Leonowens

Mayworks Halifax is also launching a series of Social Justice Collectible Trading Cards.

It’s a fundraiser, says Labelle, but it is also a fine way to learn about people who have had a great impact on how Nova Scotia is shaped today, but who we actually know very little about.

The beautiful cards, designed by Zach Gough, feature Anna Mae Pictou Aquash, Anne Fulton, Dr. Carrie Best, Gabriel Sylliboy, James Calbert “Cal” Best, Dr. Joan Cummings, Muriel Duckworth, James Bryson “J.B.” McLachlan, Anna Leonowens and James Koval “J.K.” Bell.

There are 10 cards in this first series. Cards will be sold in packages of six so trading is required to collect them all! And yes, gum is included.

Labelle enjoyed researching and curating the cards. It also made him realize how little we know about Nova Scotia’s activist history.

“I wanted to include a disability activist. We landed on Dr. Joan Cummings, I didn’t really know anyone, and it was very hard to find this kind of info, which is kind of telling,” Labelle says.

Earlier I had the same reaction of delight (and embarrassment about my ignorance) when I googled Black Canadian journalist Dr. Carrie Best, who has her own card in the set.

Turns out that Best lived in New Glasgow, and was arrested for sitting in a whites-only part of the Roseway Theatre, just like Viola Desmond several years later.  

Now I want to know everything about her.

“Yes, that’s what we were hoping for,” says Labelle.

The Canadian Labour International Festival, Monday January 30, 7:30 PM – 9 PM, at the Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street, Halifax.

Like Mayworks Halifax on Facebook.

Please support the Nova Scotia Advocate so that it can continue to cover issues such as poverty, racism, exclusion, workers’ rights and the environment in Nova Scotia. 

The post I’ll trade you Muriel Duckworth for Anna Leonowens. Mayworks Halifax launches social justice trading cards at Monday’s film fest appeared first on Nova Scotia Advocate.