Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
HARRY BELAFONTE, UNICEF GOODWILL AMBASSADOR TO KEYNOTE ENVISION
You heard it first here: UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Harry Belafonte will be the keynote speaker at the second annual "Envision: Addressing Global Issues through Documentaries" forum focusing on the UN’s Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal primary education on Saturday July 10th at TheTimesCenter, 242 West 41st in New York City.
Belafonte has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 1987, and is known worldwide for his accomplishments as a recording artist and concert singer, as an actor and producer, and for his commitment to human rights. He has campaigned tirelessly for the rights of children and has been a long-time champion of abolishing primary school fees in developing nations, reducing HIV/AIDS. Belafonte received the US National Medal for the Arts, and has been widely recognized for his humanitarian work. Find his full bio here, his urging an end to school fees in Africa here and an MSNBC discussion about the importance of supporting education in developing countries here. For more about the Goodwill Ambassador program go here.
A Global Conversation on Quality Education For All. Will you Join Us?
There are few greater pleasures for an organization than to present a program at the zeitgeist of a global conversation. Filmmakers, too, revel in presenting stories that reach the height of cultural relevance. The IFP and UN DPI’s Envision program is facilitating both at our July 10th forum addressing global issues through documentaries.
Envision’s screening of Academy-Award winning director Davis Guggenheim’s WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” has been generating significant discussion since its launch at Sundance in January. Envision has convened leaders in the field representing an array of policymakers, educators, and activists, including film subjects and representatives from the Center for American Progress, Sangari Global Education Institute, Citizen Schools, and the Chancellor’s office of the DC Public School System.
Just last week, American Federation of Teachers President and film subject Randi Weingarten responded to a Huffington Post review of WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” by Blaise Nutter with her own Huff Post missive. This exchange pivoted off a recent screening of WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” where she participated in a Q&A with film subject and DC School Chancellor Michelle Rhee as discussed here.
It’s clear there is much to be said on both sides of this issue, and we’re proud to be showcasing this game changing film and discussion. Can’t be at the event but want to participate remotely? Follow us on twitter at @IFPEnvision, post your questions with #ifpenv, or sign up for our Envision mailing list here.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Roger Ebert on the Two Envision Centerpiece Films
Through this jointly produced event, IFP and the UN seek to combine film presentations with substantive, live-audience (real and virtual) discussions on pressing global issues. The UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) serve as the focal point for presentations, screenings, social networking, case studies and panel discussions.
The Spotlight Focus for Envision in 2010 will be exploring creative and scalable solutions to our global education crisis, specifically focusing on the UN's Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal primary education.
The event will bring together dozens of leaders from the international filmmaking community with prominent representatives from the UN, as well as civil society organizations, entrepreneurs, activists, journalists, economists, public policy makers and NGOs to address global issues through the international shared language of filmed documentaries.
The two films shown during the program, Jennifer Arnold's A SMALL ACT and Davis Guggenheim's WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, were the subject of a great essay by Roger Ebert:
"Sometimes two films set up an uncanny resonance with one another. I saw two documentaries back to back. One filled me with hope and the other washed me in despair. They were both about the education of primary school children."