(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) -– Eight feature films will lead a program of international works that will be presented at the Show Me Justice Film Festival, planned for Oct. 17-20 on the campus of the University of Central Missouri.
“A team of area residents, and university faculty and staff have combed through hundreds of films that were submitted and put together a program that may very well change the lives of people who come to the film festival in profound ways,” said Mark von Schlemmer, festival director and assistant professor of communication at UCM. “I can’t wait to share these films with everyone.”
According to von Schlemmer, this year’s feature film lineup ranges from narrative films on animal rights and immigrant rights to documentaries on free speech and corporation-free radio. The festival also will include five shorts programs, a high school filmmaking workshop, and two filmmaker roundtables that will be announced in the near future.
Feature films, all of which will be shown in Hendricks Hall, include:

• “Corporate FM,” directed by Kansas City-based filmmaker Kevin McKinney. This documentary explores the shift from local to conglomerate radio and what happens when a city loses its communal microphone. McKinney will make a guest appearance at the festival.
• “One Day After Peace” is directed by Miri and Erez Lauer. The documentary follows a mother’s journey through Israel and Palestine to South Africa, from a place of conflict, loss, and pain, to one of hope and possibilities for forgiveness.
• “The After Party” is a documentary that explores world of domestic surveillance and restrictions on freedom of speech. The film is directed by Michael Schiller, who will attend the festival, and features appearances by President Barack Obama, Cornell West, and Andre ‘3000’ Benjamin.
• “Difficult Love,” directed by Peter Goldsmid, who plans to attend the festival, and Zanele Muholi, offers a moving answer to the question of how real the freedoms of newly won democracy for Black, South African gays and lesbians are, as well as a compelling plea for understanding and tolerance.
• “Lost Angels” is directed by Thomas Napper and explores how Los Angeles’ Skid Row, home to addiction, homelessness, and mental illness, is also home to hope, life, and community.
• A work-in-progress screening of “Love Orchard” is a narrative feature about an estranged father and daughter. Directed by Farhad Mann, who plans to attend the festival, the film depicts how the father, played by Bruce Dern, and daughter must mend their relationship in order to save a Mexican immigrant’s child from deportation.
• “Dreaming Nicaragua” is directed by Marcelo Bukin and artistically portrays five children’s lives submerged in extreme poverty in Nicaragua. A member of Fabretto Children’s Foundation, the non-profit that produced the film, will be at the festival.
• “A.L.F.” is a narrative feature directed by Jérôme Lescure.  Bonded by empathy toward mistreated animals, a diverse group of ordinary people face the dilemma that when something has gone beyond the bounds of reason, you must forget about what is legal and care about what seems right. This narrative thriller explores the role of loyalty and betrayal in pursuit of one’s beliefs.

Tickets for feature films are $10 for the public and $5 for students. The public may pay the student rate if they bring two canned goods and students may receive free admission with two canned goods. Admission for members of the military and senior citizens is $5.
For more information visit www.ucmo.edu/filmfest or contact [email protected].
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