CHICAGO, IL, April 11, 2014 - The Next Movement, a committee of Trinity United Church of Christ's Prison Ministry presents the First Annual ( In )Justice for All Film Festival, ( IFAFF ), Thursday, April 24, 2014, through Saturday, May 3, 2014, featuring a dozen feature length documentaries and topical shorts illuminating the causes and impacts of America's mass incarceration epidemic and potential solutions. Festival partners include Black Student Union and Students for Sensible Drug Policy at Roosevelt University; the Charles Shelby Rooks Society at Chicago Theological

Seminary; Project Nia; Students for Sensible Drug Policy at University of Chicago; Community Justice for Youth Institute; Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation; Kenwood UCC; Workers Center for Racial Justice; Kennedy-King College; Faith Community of St. Sabina; and McCormick Theological Seminary.

The IFAFF featured films and venues include: Serving Life, directed by Lisa Cohen, at Trinity United Church of Christ on April 24, 6-9pm; America's Longest War, directed by Paul Feine, at Roosevelt University on April 25, 2pm; Girl Rising, directed by Richard E. Robbins at Beverly Art Center, April 25, 6-9pm; The New Black, directed by Yoruba Richen, at Chicago Theological Seminary, April 26, 5-8pm; Positive Women; Exposing Injustice, directed by Alison Duke, at Kenwood United Church of Christ, April 29, 6-9pm; Code of the West, directed by Rebecca Richman Cohen, at Workers Center for Racial Justice, May 2, 6-9pm; The House I Live In, directed by Eugene Jarecki, at Kennedy-King College, May 2, 6-9pm; A Healing River, produced and directed by Cathie Douglas and Larry

Moore, at Faith Community of St. Sabina, May 2, 6-9pm; and closing ceremony at Trinity UCC, featuring the shor documentary Legal Fix-Portugal, May 3, 5-7pm. Most screenings will follow with guest speakers, discussions or circle talk. For complete schedule information, visit Article Link Here .

Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness: "The

( In )Justice for All Film Festival is an exciting and groundbreaking event designed to raise awareness about the magnitude of the harm caused by mass incarceration by harnessing the creative energies of dedicated, socially conscious filmmakers. See these films, expand your mind, grow your heart, and join the movement for justice."

The power of film to educate and influence, to inspire and engage, and to ultimately exponentially grow the number of active allies in the fight to end the injustice that mass incarceration represents, is the catalyst for the ( In )Justice for All Film Festival.

The Next Movement ( TNM ) was born as a response to a visit and lecture by Professor Michelle Alexander, at Trinity United Church of Christ, December 5, 2010, and a Convening held December 11, 2010, that began to form an action plan to respond to mass incarceration in America. TNM, organized as a committee of the Trinity United Church of Christ's Prison Ministry, is comprised of Americans of all races, ages and religious affiliations. TNM's mission is to end the mass incarceration of African Americans, other men and women and youth of color, the poor and disadvantaged, and to remove the structural injustices inflicted upon the currently and formerly incarcerated, returning their full rights to them.

No nation in the world incarcerates more of its citizens than America. Over 2.3 million people reside in our prisons and jails on any given day, and many millions more are under the control of our ( In )Justice system, on probation and parole. Hundreds of thousands, for minor drug offenses, and many more as a result of actions taken because of their addictions ( theft, prostitution, etc. ). And then, there is the mental health crisis in America . . . our three largest mental health facilities are Cook County Jail in Illinois, Rikers Island Jail in New York, and LosAngeles County Jail.

The ( In )Justice for All Film Festival was conceived by The Next Movement, an advocacy committee of the Trinity United Church of Christ Prison Minisitry, as a project to pull together a consortium of social justice organizations, universities, and colleges, and faith-based organizations, and use the power of film to educate our community and build the grass roots support needed to create systemic change. To that end, in addition to screening films, we, along with our various partners, will be hosting several events to enrich our understanding of the issues and challenges associated with the mass incarceration epidemic.

During 10 days this spring, we will present a variety of the works of socially aware and extremely talented filmmakers and flood Chicagoland with stories that demonstrate the issues, challenges, and solutions to America's epidemic of mass incarceration. For added depth and understanding, we will also feature panels and forums at many of the screenings.

All of our events are free! Please avail yourself of this unique opportunity to deepen your understanding, to be angered, to be touched, and most importantly, to be called to action.

The Lineup

( All movie screenings are FREE, except for two that we are cross promoting with Siskel Film Center that fit with our theme, but are part of their programing. Those two films require ticket purchases. )

Thursday, April 24th | 6pm-7pm

Festival Opening Reception

7pm-9pm

SERVING LIFE

Director: Lisa Cohen

Trinity United Church of Christ

400 W. 95th Street, Chicago

The film takes viewers inside Louisiana's maximum security prison at Angola, where the average sentence is more than 90 years. The prisoners within its walls are the worst of the worst - rapists, kidnappers, and murderers. With prison sentences so long, 85 percent will never again live in the outside world; instead, they will grow old and die in Angola. Serving Life documents an extraordinary hospice program where hardened criminals care for their dying fellow inmates. In doing so, they embark on a journey that may end in personal rehabilitation.

Friday, April 25th | 2pm-5pm

The Black Student Union and

Students for Sensible Drug Policy

of Roosevelt University present:

AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR

Director: Paul Feine

Roosevelt University

425 S. Wabash Avenue, Room 611, Chicago

People all around the world are increasingly realizing that drug prohibition has failed to achieve its goals. Drug use rates have not declined and drugs are more available—and cheaper—than ever before. At the same time, the drug war has resulted in a long list of unintended consequences: militarization of law enforcement, the imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of non-violent people, and more than 60,000 homicides in Mexico. America's Longest War tells the stories of some of the countless victims of the drug war and points to a viable alternative approach to drug policy.

A panel discussion will follow the film.

Friday, April 25th | 6pm-9pm

The Women's Conference of

Trinity United Church of Christ present:

GIRL RISING

Director: Richard E. Robbins

Beverly Art Center

2407 W. 111th St., Chicago

Girl Rising journeys around the globe to witness the strength of the human spirit and the power of education to change the world. Viewers get to know nine unforgettable girls living in the developing world; ordinary girls who confront tremendous challenges and overcome nearly impossible odds to pursue their dreams. Prize-winning authors put the girls' remarkable stories into words and renowned actors give them voice.

Stay for the panel conversation discussion following the film.

Saturday, April 26th | 5pm-8pm

Trinity UCC Singles Community:

Same Gender Loving Family and

The Charles Shelby Rooks Society of the

Chicago Theological Seminary present:

THE NEW BLACK

Director: Yoruba Richen

Chicago Theological Seminary

1407 E. 60th St, Chicago

The New Black is a documentary that tells the story of how the African American community is grappling with the gay rights issue, in light of the recent gay marriage movement and the fight over civil rights. The film documents activists, families, and clergy on both sides of the campaign to legalize gay marriage and examines homophobia in the black community's institutional pillar—the black church—and reveals the Christian right wing's strategy of exploiting this phenomenon in order to pursue an anti-gay political agenda.

A panel discussion will follow the film with:

Moderator: Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ

Panelists: Roderick Hawkins, Vice President of External Affairs, Chicago Urban League; Dr. Donique

McIntosh, Pastor of Liberation United Church of Christ; Rev. Phyllis Pennese, Founder and Senior Pastor, M. Div. Pillar of Love Fellowship United Church Of Christ and Pastor, St. John United Church of Christ; Rev. Charles Straight, Pastor, Faith United Methodist Church.

Sunday, April 27th | 2:30pm-5:30pm

Project Nia and

Students for Sensible Drug Policy of

University of Chicago present:

TULIA, TEXAS

Directors: Cassandra Herrman and Kelly Whalen University of Chicago

Harper Memorial Library — 1st Floor

1116 E. 59th St., Chicago

On July 23, 1999, undercover narcotics agent, Thomas Coleman, carried out one of the biggest drug stings in Texas history. By the end of this blazing summer day, dozens of residents in the sleepy farming town of Tulia had been rounded up and thrown behind bars. Thirty-nine of the 46 people accused of selling drugs to Coleman were African American. But disturbing evidence about the undercover investigation and Coleman's past soon began to surface. Tulia, Texas follows the 1999 raid and its aftermath, which roiled the small rural community.

Panel discussion will follow the film screening. Monday, April 28th | 6pm-9pm

Community Justice for Youth Institute and Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation present

CRACKING THE CODES

Director: Shakti Butler

Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation

5114 S. Elizabeth Street, Chicago

A new film that asks America to talk about the causes and consequences of systemic inequity,

Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity, features moving stories from racial justice leaders. The implications observed in the movie will be the source of conversation within a peace circle immediately following the film. Limited seating is available

Tuesday, April 29th | 6pm-9pm

Kenwood UCC presents:

POSITIVE WOMEN:

EXPOSING INJUSTICE

Director: Alison Duke

Kenwood United Church of Christ 4608 S. Greenwood Avenue, Chicago Women's voices have rarely been heard on this important issue. What happens if a woman does not disclose her HIV-positive status to a sexual partner? How does criminalization impact HIV-positive women in Canada who are attempting to live their lives in the shadow of stigma and fear? Does the law actually protect women's health? How do women feel about their experience with criminal laws associated with HIV non-disclosure? Positive Women: Exposing Injustice takes the audience into the hearts and minds of four HIV-positive women who bravely speak out on this important issue.

Please stay for an important conversation with panelists, Rev. Dr. Laura Lee; Rev. Yoruba Siddiq; Rev. Dr. David Steward, and Rev. William Walley.

Friday, May 2nd | 6pm-9pm

Workers Center for Racial Justice presents:

CODE OF THE WEST

Director: Rebecca Richman Cohen

Workers Center for Racial Justice

500 E. 61st Street, Chicago

At a time when the world is rethinking its drug policies large and small, one state rises to the forefront. Once a pioneer in legalizing medical marijuana, the state of Montana may now become the first to repeal its medical marijuana law. Set against the sweeping vistas of the Rockies, the steamy lamplight of marijuana grow houses, and the bustling halls of the State Capitol, Code of the West follows the political process of marijuana policy reform — and the recent federal crackdown on medical marijuana growers across the country. This is the story of what happens when politics fail, emotions run high, and communities pay the price. A panel discussion will immediately follow the film.

Friday, May 2nd | 6pm-9pm

Kennedy-King College/

City Colleges of Chicago present:

THE HOUSE I LIVE IN

Director: Eugene Jarecki

Kennedy-King College

6301 S. Halsted St., Chicago

For the past 40 years, the war on drugs has resulted in more than 45 million arrests, $1 trilliondollars in government spending, and America's role as the world's largest jailer. Yet for all that, drugs are cheaper, purer, and more available than ever. Filmed in more than twenty states, The House I Live In captures heart-wrenching stories of those on the front lines — from the dealer to the grieving mother; the narcotics officer to the senator; the inmate to the federal judge — and offers a penetrating look at the profound human rights implications of America's longest war.

Stay for the panel conversation that will immediately follow the film.

Friday, May 2nd | 6pm-8:30pm

The Faith Community of St. Sabina presents:

A HEALING RIVER

Directors: Cathie Douglas and Larry Moore

The Faith Community of St. Sabina

1210 W. 78th Pl., Chicago

A Healing River is an excellent movie for introducing people to restorative justice. It deals withissues such as trauma, recovery, and the psychology of the restorative process. The documentary uses the voices of practitioners, victims, and offenders to explore the meaning and values ofrestorative justice. There will be a panel discussion immediately following the screening. Saturday, May 3rd | 12pm-3pm

The Next Movement committee and McCormick Theological Seminary present:

BREAKING THE TABOO

Director: Richard Branson, Jr.

McCormick Theological Seminary

5460 S. University Ave., Chicago

In 2011, a group of world leaders, including seven ex-presidents, set up the global commission on drug policy to end the forty year war on drugs. However, wars are easier to start than to finish. The war on drugs officially started in 1971, when President Richard Milhous Nixon said: "We must wage what I have called total war against public enemy number one in the United States, the problem of dangerous drugs." Narrated by Morgan Freeman, Breaking the Taboo features interviews with several current or former presidents from around the world, including Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. The film follows The Global Commission on Drug Policy on a mission to break the political taboo over the United States-led War on Drugs and exposes what it calls the biggest failure of global policy in the last 40 years

Saturday, May 3rd | 5pm-7pm

Closing/Award Ceremony and LEGAL FIX-PORTUGAL

Trinity United Church of Christ

400 W. 95th St., Chicago

Join us as we close out our First Annual ( In )Justice for All Film Festival with highlights from this 10-day event, awards for the filmmakers that work so diligently and creatively, to bring this critical issue to light, and for a screening of Legal Fix-Portugal, a wonderful film that captures Portugal's experience. Portugal, after suffering the highest instance of drug-related deaths in all of Europe, took a brave decision and decriminalized all drugs. Ten years on, is it a success story for other nations to follow?

While the films below are not part of our festival, they are certainly in the spirit of our festival, and speak the critical issues of life sentences, torture, and solitary confinement Tickets for these films can be purchased at the Siskel Film Center box office, or online at Article Link Here .

Pre-Festival

Friday, Apr. 18th - 8:15pm

Monday, Apr. 21st - 8:00pm

Wednesday, Apr 23rd - 6:00pm

NATURAL LIFE

Director: Tirtza Even

Siskel Film Theater

164 N. State St., Chicago

For more than fifteen years, video artist and documentary filmmaker Tirtza Even has created a body of work that addresses an array of complex social and political issues in Palestine, Turkey, Spain, Germany, and the U.S. Her latest project, Natural Life, is a feature-length documentary about six individuals who, as youths, received the most severe sentence given to convicted adults— "natural life" or life without parole. Pairing interviews with inmates and those involved in their cases ( family members, attorneys, police officers, and victims ) with documented and staged scenes, Even's film is an elegant and unflinching challenge to the inequities of the juvenile justice system.

Director Tirtza Even will be present for audience discussion on Friday and Wednesday. Saturday, April 26th — 3pm

Wednesday, April 30th — 8pm

MARS AT SUNRISE

Director: Jessica Habie

Siskel Film Theater

164 N. State St., Chicago

"Enlightening…Mars at Sunrise is a thoughtful

and inventive look at a seemingly endless war."

—Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times

Inspired by the true story of exiled Palestinian artist Hani Zurob, Mars at Sunrise, is eerily surreal in evoking the internal refuge of a man undergoing torture and solitary confinement. Evicted from his confiscated home, arrested, his work vandalized, painter Khaled ( Suliman of Paradise Now ) wages a creative battle of wits with his captor as his mind takes flight in impressionistic fantasies, memories, and the dreams that keep him alive.

Without the help of many, this festival would not be possible. Affordable Power and Justice � Charles Shelby Rooks Society of Chicago Theological Seminary � Chicago Metropolitan Association—United Church of Christ � Community Justice for Youth Institute � Community Renewal Society � Drug Policy Alliance � Gene Siskel Film Center � CURE Illinois � Evangelical Lutheran Church in America-Racial Justice Ministries � Kennedy-King College: City Colleges of Chicago � Kenwood United Church of Christ � McCormick Theological Seminary � Positive Anti-Crime Thrust � Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation � Project Nia � Roosevelt University—Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy � Roosevelt University: Black Student Union & Students for Sensible Drug Policy � The Criminal and Juvenile Justice Project, University of Chicago � The Faith Community of St. Sabina � Trinity UCC Imabassi ( Health and Wellness ) Ministry � Trinity UCC Prison Ministry � Trinity UCC Singles Community: Same Gender Loving Family � Trinity UCC Women's Conference � University of Chicago: Students for Sensible Drug Policy Workers Center for Racial Justice � Workers Center for Racial Justice