"Cinema Politica is on the cutting edge of the cinematic zeitgeist, and once again is tapping into the heart of the times, by showcasing the power of connecting spirit with action with their new project “Divine Interventions.” ~ Velcrow Ripper, Director of OCCUPY LOVE & winner of the Cinema Politica Audience Choice Award 2013.

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Divine Interventions: Documentary, Spirituality and Social Justice explores the intersection of social justice and spirituality in documentary cinema. As a sidebar program of documentary screenings, the project looks at the roles spirituality, religion and secularism play in fostering or inhibiting a plurality of perspectives, as well as understanding across cultural, religious, and ethnic borders, and lastly participation in social causes, campaigns and movements.

The first project instalment (September 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014) consisted of 40 documentary screenings followed by panel discussions and open forum dialogues held at Cinema Politica locals, on campuses across Canada. Divine Interventions 2.0 takes place throughout the CP Network from fall 2014 to winter 2015.

Do you have a film that you'd like to submit? Click here for our latest Call for Submissions. For more information contact divineinterventions@cinemapolitica.org.

Click here to download the 2014-2015 event poster, and see below for all Divine Interventions screenings.

FILM PROGRAM 2014-2015

AYITI TOMA, IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING
A unique and culturally poignant doc that shines a different light on Haiti, ultimately providing the platform for Haitians to speak for themselves. 

CALL ME KUCHU
A powerful look at the courageous LGBTQ activists in Uganda, including murdered activist David Kato. 

CRIMES WITHOUT HONOUR
A vital and urgent addition to the recent films about crimes related to traditions of family honour.                                                                 

GENTLY WHISPERING THE CIRCLE BACK
A documentary exploration of the journey of healing in a people wounded by the Canadian Indian Residential School system. 

UPROOTED GENERATION
A young Innu returns to the sight of the Indian Residential School in Sept-Îles to deliver a poetic tribute to its victims. 

HAVE YOU SEEN THE ARANA?
A traditional healer's concern over the disappearance of medicinal plants frames this beautifully photographed intersection of spirituality and environmentalism. 

HUICHOLES: THE LAST PEYOTE GUARDIANS
The urgent story of the mystical Wixarika People and their struggle against the Mexican government and Canadian mining companies.

I AM FEMEN
A doc that chronicles the radical politics and controversial direct actions of Ukrainian feminists Femen. 

LET THE FIRE BURN 
A compelling deployment of archival materials sets the tone for a disturbing and haunting exploration of a dark chapter in US race history.

THEY WERE PROMISED THE SEA
A myth-shattering documentary about women and men whose identity as Arab Jews challenges the very notion of enemy. 

In addition to the newly acquired titles listed above, Divine Interventions also includes existing films from the CP back catalogue, including: CITY OF BORDERS, FIERCE LIGHT: WHEN SPIRIT MEETS ACTION, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO, INUIT KNOWLEDGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE, A JIHAD FOR LOVE, SCARED SACRED, SILHOUETTE CITY, STOLEN SPIRITS OF HAIDA GWAII, TAQWACORE, WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY & WIEBO'S WAR. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

This initiative consists of dozens of screening events across Canada, where audiences, artists and activists are encouraged to explore all issues related to the intersection of spirituality and social justice.

These public discussions then continue and expand into online conversations through our project Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook accounts, with the aim of fostering engaged communities across geographic barriers.justice. 

PARTNERS & FUNDERS

Divine Interventions is a project supported by The Inspirit Foundation and organized in collaboration with the Documentary Organization of Canada.

THE INSPIRIT FOUNDATION
inspiritfoundation.org
We are a national, grant-making organization that supports young people (aged 18 to 30) in building a more inclusive and pluralist Canada. One way we do this is by funding projects that foster engagement and exchange between young people of different spiritual, religious and secular beliefs. 

THE DOCUMENTARY ORGANIZATION OF CANADA
docorg.ca
The Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) is the collective voice of independent documentary makers across Canada. DOC is the premiere organization for Canadian documentary advocacy, analyzing policy, conducting insightful research and speaking up at all levels of government to help Canadian documentary flourish. 

THE CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
canadacouncil.ca
The Canada Council offers a broad range of grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations in music, theatre, writing and publishing, visual arts, dance, media arts, and integrated and circus arts – fostering and promoting the arts in Canada since 1957.

 LE CONSEIL DES ARTS ET DES LETTRES DU QUÉBEC
calq.gouv.qc.ca
The Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec supports, throughout Québec, creation, experimentation, production and dissemination in the realms of the visual arts, the arts and crafts, literature, the performing arts, the multidisciplinary arts, cinema and video, the digital arts and architectural research. The Conseil also seeks to broaden the influence of artists, writers, arts organizations and their works in Québec, Canada and abroad.

LE CONSEIL DES ARTS DE MONTRÉAL
artsmontreal.org 
Motivated by its mission to support and recognize artistic excellence, the Conseil des arts de Montréal identifies, supports and recognizes experimentation, discovery and boldness. Its policies stimulate innovation and promote emerging artists and cultural diversity. Through its grants, tours, residencies, awards, like the Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal, and mobilization initiatives, often created in partnership, the Conseil annually supports over 350 cultural organizations.