The monthly Food for Thought film series offers educational background for viewers on complex topics, such as sustainability.
Throughout the year, the Moscow Food Co-op partners with the University of Idaho Sustainability Center to showcase a variety of these informative documentaries and feature films at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre. The films run February to April and start again in September, ending in November.
Max Newland, education and events coordinator for the Co-op, said the free event focuses on topics that are not only educational, but relevant.
“You are going to have an impact on the world around you no matter what, but if you aren’t intentional about that impact, the consequences can be really bad, to the point you might not even see them,” Newland said. “I hope that people see all the ways they are connected to the world through this film series and understand those complexities to help guide their behaviors and choices to better themselves, their community and even the local economy.”
September’s film, “Albatross,” which plays 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, brings to light the impacts of albatross birds consuming plastic and garbage on Midway Island — an extremely polluted area in the Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii.
The film discusses the large impact humans have on the world around them, even when it seems like a distant problem.
Newland said every movie showcased through the series has at least one speaker from varying fields of expertise to share extra information and insight. People aren’t watching just a movie, he said — they are able to learn something about the world they live in.
“At the Co-op we think it’s really important for people to approach life in an intentional way, and it’s hard to do that in a passive form of entertainment like just watching a movie,” Newland said. “That’s why we try and provide other context through speakers and educators that have extra background on the films.”
A committee of volunteers — most involved in local organizations or businesses around town —choose what films are shown throughout the year. Some of the organizations involved include the Moscow Recycling Center, UI Sustainability Center and the Palouse Environmental Sustainability Coalition.
Often, members of the committee have direct connections to films and their directors, providing access to interesting flicks, Newland said.
The goal is to always try to pick films that are new and have a background rooted in science, he said.
“Research evolves so fast and something shown from two years ago could already be completely out of date, so we try to stay as up to date as possible,” Newland said.
Alycia Rock, the Co-op’s marketing manager, said people should take advantage of a free, quality learning opportunity that allows them to get more involved with issues they may not have a lot of familiarity with.
Most of the films are chosen in regard to sustainability topics, which also align with the mission of the Co-op and UI Sustainability Center, Rock said.
To uphold the cooperative model principles, it is important that the Co-op provides the community with education, training and information through a variety of outreach methods, such as films, she said.
“It’s a great chance for anyone with a curiosity for sustainability, economics, the food system and more to learn without having to go too far from home,” Rock said.
October’s film showing is “Food for Change,” a documentary of the history and the social and economic power food co-ops have in America.
Allison Spain can be reached at [email protected]