Can you share some of the key films you are releasing this fall that you think would resonate with librarians/educators?
Yes! We’re excited to release two new films this fall, The Cure for Hate and The Black Atlantic.
The Cure for Hate documents the profoundly personal journey of atonement taken by Tony McAleer, a one-time skinhead and Holocaust denier, as he travels to the former Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The film also explores the conditions that allowed for the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe. It’s an incredibly timely film that links history to recent trends in hate crimes, intolerance, and violent extremism. Ultimately, this film is a story that reminds us that transformation and healing are always possible. It’s an important tool for communities looking to build resilience to radicalization.
The Black Atlantic features an interview with renowned British historian and author Paul Gilroy about his influential book of the same name – a book that remains a seminal text in the field of black politics and cultural identity. It belongs in any class dealing with cultural studies, postcolonial theory, cultural appropriation, and diaspora. It’s a film that speaks to the heart of our mission at the Media Education Foundation to translate cutting-edge scholarly work to the world at large.
Could you share with us the primary goals and vision behind the launch of your new streaming platform this fall? What unique features or content can educators and students expect to find?
We are thrilled to launch our own custom streaming platform which is designed to enhance the way universities and other educational institutions access and interact with our catalog of more than 170 documentary films. The new platform offers a new streaming option for life-of-file access, robust search capabilities driven by metadata, and the fastest possible access to our new releases.
The platform also features over 65 (and counting) bonus features and extras, many of which are available for the first time ever to subscribers, encompassing alternate or abridged director’s cuts, behind-the-scenes footage, making-of documentaries, exclusive interviews, recorded Q&As with filmmakers, and original versions of classics such as Killing Us Softly and Dreamworlds.
As a mission-driven non-profit organization, we see this platform as a testament to our commitment to remaining a fiercely independent producer and distributor of educational documentaries – while at the same time offering our customers the most current options and trends in educational streaming media.
How can your films engage public library patrons, and what themes or topics do you think will resonate with them?
MEF films help spark critical thinking and discussion about some of the most pressing – and often contentious – issues of our time. Patrons at public libraries are lifelong learners, and they seek out our films to engage with these issues.
MEF films help spark critical thinking and discussion about some of the most pressing – and often contentious – issues of our time. Patrons at public libraries are lifelong learners, and they seek out our films to engage with these issues.
Requiem for the American Dream, for example, is a documentary featuring Noam Chomsky that breaks down how the deliberate concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a select few have led to the swan song of functioning democracy. It’s a master class on inequality
Theaters of War has also done very well with public library audiences due to its eye-opening investigation into the collaboration between the mainstream film industry and the US military. The general public is very interested in this kind of exposé!
Soul Food Junkies is also one of our most-watched films by public library patrons. It’s an absorbing and ultimately inspiring look at the cultural politics of food and the complex interplay between identity, taste, power, and health.
What are the best films for college campus screenings that promote student engagement and discussion?
One of the standout new films in our collection for college campus screenings is Hazing, from award-winning filmmaker Byron Hurt. It’s a deeply personal look inside the culture, tradition, and secrecy surrounding hazing rituals in fraternities and sororities, sports teams, marching bands, the military, and beyond. The film has been screened on numerous campuses, and we've received moving feedback from students who leave the screening inspired to help change the hazing culture and combat violence on their own campuses.
How do you accommodate institutions with varying budget levels?
We offer a variety of formats at different price points, and we also offer discounts for community colleges and high schools. We have a small dedicated team ready to help you integrate MEF films into your institution’s catalog, so just reach out to us at any time.
Will any of your films come with educational resources or guides that teachers can use in conjunction with the film?
Yes! Scores of our films come with free, comprehensive discussion guides. These guides provide valuable information for students, like section summaries and key points. For educators, the guides help make class preparation easier, with discussion questions, writing and research exercises, and additional resources for further learning.