Welcome to the Second AnnualLight in the Dark Festival for PeaceSponsored by theTidewater Peace Alliancethroughout December 200610 Regional Film Premieres at Naro CinemaPeace Festival Seminars and Special EventsPeace Festival Seminars and Special EventsPrimary event location:
The Studio for the Healing Arts
1611 Colley Ave., 2nd floor (one block north of the Naro)
FIFTH ANNUAL FAIR TRADE FESTIVALFriday, December 1, 3-10 p.m.
Saturday, December 2, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,
Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Princess Anne and Blow Streets in Ghent
Coffee, chocolate, hand-made crafts, and other goods from both local artists and fairly paid artists and farmers from around the world. Music, poetry, theater, and spoken word! Shop for change this season!
BRINGING IT HOMESunday, December 3, 1-4 p.m. :
Seminar at the Studio for the Healing Arts
Admission: Please bring a food donation to serve the homeless: pasta, canned goods, flour, etc.
Moderator: Susan Posey
* Community Supported Agriculture * Farmers Market * Becoming a Fair Trade town * Buying Fair all year round * Introduction to the Hampton Roads Fair Database
Free Food Served by Food Not BombsSAMIDOUNWednesday, December 6, 7:15 p.m
Seminar at the Studio for the Healing Arts
Admission $10
In Attendance: Ana Noguiera and Andrew SternSamidoun: a multimedia journey through the 34 day war in Lebanon and its aftermath, produced by award-winning independent reporters Ana Nogueira and Andrew Stern. Interweaving still photography, audio and video, Samidoun is a uniquely intimate look at the human cost of this conflict that took the lives of over 1200 people, wounded thousands more, and displaced over one million.
RECEPTION FOR THE FILM MAKERS 6 p.m. at Azars Restaurant, 2000 Colley Ave.The Second Saturday Salon:
Fire and Light, and Off-Road Search for the Spirit of GodSaturday, December 9, 8-11p.m.
Free and open to the public
Faciliator: John Robertson, author of Fire and Light
“In FIRE AND LIGHT, Jon Robertson searches for evidence of a unifying spiritual intelligence among the world's religious texts, scientific theories, and spiritual philosophies. This off-road quest leads him through the Bible, the Qu'ran, and the Bhagavad Gita to psychotherapists, mystics, and even a retired sailor from Southern California. At the end of his pursuit, Robertson discovers a powerful and loving force accessible to everyone on the planet.”
Bring a dish to pass
Walk In Their Shoes: Remembering the ChildrenWednesday, December 13, 5:30 p.m. in front of The Naro Cinema
Organizer: Carol Manuel
A silent visual tribute to the thousands of children who have been casualties of the invasion and occupation of Iraq will be held in front of the Naro Theater on Colley Avenue. Children's shoes bearing the names, ages, date of death, and the circumstances of the death will be laid out in tribute to the innocent lives that have been snuffed out as a result of war and violence since 2003. A brief reading of names and candle lighting will take place at the opening of the display. You are invited to participate in this memorial to the Iraqi children
Iraq in Fragments
Wednesday, December 13, 7:15 p.m., at the Naro
The feature film Iraq in Fragments will be the opening film of the Light in the Dark Film Festival at the Naro. Filmed in cinema-verite style, director James Longley's poetically rendered documentary looks at contemporary Iraq through the eyes of Sunnis, Shites, and Kurds. Stories include a fatherless 11-year-old apprenticed to the cruel owner of a Baghdad garage; Sadr followers in two Shiite cities rallying for regional elections while enforcing Islamic law at the point of a gun; and a family of Kurdish farmers welcoming the U.S. presence, which has allowed them a measure of freedom previously denied. Winner of three Documentary awards at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival: Best Director, Cinematography, and Editing (94 minutes)
Introducing the film, and the situation in Iraq concerning the targeting of teachers will be former liaison officer for Doctors Without Borders, Nabil Al-Tikriti:
Nabil Al-Tikriti (naltikri@umw.edu) received his Ph.D. in Ottoman and Islamic History from the University of Chicago in 2004 and joined the University of Mary Washington faculty the same year. Concurrent with his academic career Prof. Al-Tikriti has spent several years working in international emergency relief and election monitoring in several countries in the Middle East, Balkans,and Africa. His scholarly interests include Ottoman History, Modern Iraq, and Human Rights
Sufi Dances of Universal Peace,
Friday, December 15, 8-10 p.m.: Studio
$10 (space is limited so come early)
Location: Studio for the Healing Arts
The Dances of Universal Peace are simple, meditative, joyous, multi-cultural circle dances that use sacred phrases, chants, music and movements evocative of the worlds many sacred traditions.
Offered as "body prayer" in a spirit of sacredness, the dances promote peace and create an integrated experience of body, mind and spirit, helping dancers to gain direct experience of the unity of all.
No experience is necessary - the dances are simple and are taught each time by a trained facilitator.
Kids for Peace Art Fest
Saturday, December 16, 1-4p.m.
Location: Studio for the Healing Arts
Organizers: Sonia Monson and Dani Vedros
Please join us for an afternoon of art, music and fun for the entire family. Kids 18 and under are welcome to submit art work in any medium for display at the Art Fest. Performance art, spoken word, poetry or musical performances are also welcome. This is a non-competitive and inclusive event where the joy of giving and receiving our unique gift is embraced and celebrated. The theme for this year is “Creating Peace: Within Ourselves, our Community and our World”. This event is part of the Light in the Dark Peace Festival.
You can submit art ahead of time at The Studio for the Healing Arts at 1611_D Colley Ave or bring it with you the day of the event.
Transforming Ourselves and The World: The Premiere of the Dharma Gaia Satyagraha Sangha
Sunday, December 17, 1-4 p.m.
Location: Studio for the Healing Arts
Free and open to the public
Facilitators: Tom Ellis, Mac McKinney
Join us for the premiere of a biweekly, ecumenical sangha (community of practice) dedicated to exploring the universal Dharma set forth by all the great sages of the past, as applied to the political and ecological crises of the day by such Satyagrahis as Gandhi, King, Mandela, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Wangari Maathai.
DOUBLE FEATURE AT THE NARO
Tuesday, December 19, 6 p.m. "Invisible Children"
Discussion Facilitator: Duke White
No admission charge for this film. Donations will be collected.
INVISIBLE CHILDREN The filmmaking adventure of three young Americans who have traveled to Africa is transformed into much more when they find themselves stranded in Northern Uganda. What they discover is a tragedy of huge proportions-a true story in which children are both the weapons and the victims, being abducted from their homes and forced to fight as child soldiers. With coverage on Oprah, CNN, and the National Geographic Channel, this film has taken on a life of its own, empowering youth across the world to change culture, policy, and lives. (60 mins)
Tuesday, December 19, 7:30 p.m."Dorothy Day: Don't Call Me a Saint"
Discussion Facilitators: Steve and Kim Baggerly from Catholic Worker House
DOROTHY DAY: DON'T CALL ME A SAINT: Few people have had as lasting an effect on the world as Dorothy Day, who was born in 1897 and was a noted journalist and social activist who was arrested for participating in various social protests. How is it that Day (who died in 1980) now finds herself on the path to sainthood, already bestowed by the Vatican with the title "Servant of God"? In 1933 she co-founded the left-leaning Catholic Worker newspaper. The subsequent movement spawned by this publication became one of the leading proponents for social and economic justice for the poor. Directed by photographer Claudia Larson. (60 mins)
"Angry Gods: Theocracies Wage War", Seminar
Wednesday, December 20, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Location: The Studio for the Healing Arts
Moderators: Junaid S. Ahmad and Rev. Paul Boothby
The role of the state and media corporations to spread a message of fear and retribution has been well documented. But how are religious values and ethics compromised by Christian, Judaic and Islamic institutions in order to align with the militant goals and human rights abuses of the nation state? Film clips from such new movies as Jesus Camp and Passionate Voices will be shown with discussion led by expert facilitators.
Junaid S. Ahmad is a J.D. candidate in law at the College of William and
Mary, Williamsburg, VA.
Rev. Paul Boothby is Minister of the Unitarian Church in Norfolk.
First Annual Peace Walk in Ghent
Friday, December 22, 5 p.m.
Begins at Bella Yoga on Colley Ave.
Sponsored by: Tapestry Inc.
Opening circle with prayer, song and setting of intention at Bella Yoga
Please join us for an evening of reflection and communion as we use walking meditation to unite as a community with an intention of universal peace. We will walk silently through the streets of Ghent aligning our hearts with a common wish for peace and then we will celebrate the solstice with an open house at the Blair Building.
Winter Solstice Celebration: An Embodied Invocation for Peace, Compassion and Global Healing
Friday, December 22: , 7-10 p.m.,
Location: Studio for the Healing Arts, $10.00 (space limited, come early.)
Please join us for one of the final events in the Light in the Dark: Festival for Peace, an evening of dance, drumming, meditation and ritual in celebration and invocation of peace and compassion within ourselves, our community and our world.
Facilitators: Dani Vedros, Elizabeth Gay, Alexandra Kedrock and the Drum Group Beleza
For more Information: http://www.studioforthehealingarts.org/ or e-mail dvedros@cox.net
"I Know I am Not Alone"
Friday, December 27, 9p.m.
Location: Special showing at The Boot, 123 21st Street in Ghent
The Reel Prospects for Peace: Israeli Cinema 1948-2006 (Part 1)
Seminar
Wednesday, January 3, 2007, 7p.m.:
Location: The Studio for the Healing Arts
Moderated by Dr. Avi Santo, Assistant Professor of Communications at Old Dominion University
This new seminar uses selected clips from Israeli films spanning nearly sixty years to engage an audience in a conversation about how peace and conflict have been represented on the silver screen and what these shifting images suggest about real ongoing strategies for peace in the Middle East.
=====================================================================================================================================
10 Regional Film Premieres at Naro CinemaFilm dates and show times. See below for full film synopsis.
Naro Expanded Cinema
1507 Colley Ave. in Ghent
Wed, Dec 13
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS 7:15
Thurs, Dec 14
WORDS OF MY PERFECT TEACHER 7:15
Friday, Dec 15
SHUT UP AND SING 7;15
U.S. versus JOHN LENNON 9:15
Sat, Dec 16
SHUT UP AND SING 2:30
U.S. versus JOHN LENNON 4:15
INTO GREAT SILENCE 6:15
SHUT UP AND SING 9:15
Sun, Dec 17
INTO GREAT SILENCE 2:30
SHUT UP AND SING 6:00
U.S. versus JOHN LENNON 7:45
Mon, Dec 18
AT THE GREEN LINE
plus short TALKING PEACE 8:00
Tues, Dec 19
INVISIBLE CHILDREN 6:00
DOROTHY DAY: Don't Call Me a Saint 7:30
SHUT UP AND SING 9:15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ten Premiere Films at the Naro Cinema/ DescriptionsINTO GREAT SILENCE The unlikely European arthouse hit arrives in America! What would it be like to renounce the modern world and live a communal cloistered life? After years of asking for permission, filmmaker Philip Groening was finally granted the opportunity to live with the Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse, a monastery in the French Alps, and film their simple daily lives. We find that all of their rituals of prayer, work, meals and meditative walks are imbued with the spirituality of the present moment. Large portions of the narrative are entirely silent, and the gorgeous visuals within this unique film transform the cinema into a great monastery where we're granted a palpable experience of the contemplative life. (160 mins)
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS Filmed in cinema-vérité style, director James Longley's poetically rendered documentary looks at contemporary Iraq through the eyes of Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds. Stories include a fatherless 11-year-old apprenticed to the cruel owner of a Baghdad garage; Sadr followers in two Shiite cities rallying for regional elections while enforcing Islamic law at the point of a gun; and a family of Kurdish farmers welcoming the U.S. presence, which has allowed them a measure of freedom previously denied. Winner of three Documentary awards at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival: Best Director, Cinematography, and Editing. (94 mins)
SHUT UP AND SING The Dixie Chicks were at the height of their popularity as the national-anthem-singing darlings of country music and top-selling female recording artists of all time when they made their now infamous anti-Bush comment in 2003. The film follows the lives and careers of the three women over a period of three years, during which they were under political attack and received death threats while continuing to live their lives, have children, and of course make music. The film ultimately presents who the Dixie Chicks are as women, public figures, and musicians. (93 mins )
WORDS OF MY PERFECT TEACHER The renowned Bhutanese Buddhist "king", scholar, filmmaker (The Cup, Travellers and Magicians), avid soccer fan, and world teacher Dzongsar Kyentse Rinpoche is the subject of this terrific new documentary. Filmmaker Lesley Ann Patten breathlessly chases Kyentse around the world-the UK, Bhutan, Canada, the U.S., and the World Cup playoffs in Germany-in what becomes her own spiritual quest. This is a rare opportunity to spend time with a Buddhist Master who says it's time for his students to "wake up" and has no qualms about revealing secrets that many have spent lifetimes searching for. And he does so with a perfect command of English! The film is set to a world beat that includes music by Sting. (100 mins)
INVISIBLE CHILDREN The filmmaking adventure of three young Americans who have traveled to Africa is transformed into much more when they find themselves stranded in Northern Uganda. What they discover is a tragedy of huge proportions-a true story in which children are both the weapons and the victims, being abducted from their homes and forced to fight as child soldiers. With coverage on Oprah, CNN, and the National Geographic Channel, this film has taken on a life of its own, empowering youth across the world to change culture, policy, and lives. (60 mins)
No admission charge-donations to be collected.
DOROTHY DAY: DON'T CALL ME A SAINT Few people have had as lasting an effect on the world as Dorothy Day, who was born in 1897 and was a noted journalist and social activist who was arrested for participating in various social protests. How is it that Day (who died in 1980) now finds herself on the path to sainthood, already bestowed by the Vatican with the title "Servant of God"? In 1933 she co-founded the left-leaning Catholic Worker newspaper. The subsequent movement spawned by this publication became one of the leading proponents for social and economic justice for the poor. Directed by photographer Claudia Larson. (60 mins)
Norfolk Catholic Workers Steve Baggarly and Kim Williams will facilitate a post-film discussion.
TALKING PEACE Jews and Palestinians come together in the suburban home of a San Diego couple to share their stories and their pain. This intimate film documents what happens when a human face is put on those considered to be the enemy: a foundation of trust that can grow. (30 mins) Plus 2nd feature....
AT THE GREEN LINE Military service in Israel is mandatory, and the act of refusal is considered treason. Regardless, a "Courage to Refuse" movement has been growing steadily among high-ranking soldiers and officers. This powerful film takes the viewer to the front lines of the conflict with Army reservists who patrol the occupied territories and interact with Palestinians. Through interviews they reveal their struggle to reconcile individual conscience with responsibility to, and love for, one's country. (60 mins)
I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE Armed with an acoustic guitar and a video camera, musician Michael Franti takes us on a musical journey through war and occupation in Iraq, Israel, and Palestine. Along the way he shares his music with everyday people who in turn reveal the often overlooked human cost of war. (90 mins)
U.S. VERSUS JOHN LENNON Lennon's transformation from Beatles rock star to anti-war activist to iconic inspiration for peace is documented by biographers David Leaf and John Scheinfeld. They reveal the U.S. government's attempt to silence Lennon, showing that this was not just an isolated episode in history but that the issues and struggles of that era remain relevant today. (PG13, 99mins)
