MONUMENTAL DIVIDE is about a small rural town divided over politics, and follows a young couple as they come to terms with the social forces that drove them out. Stephanie, an outdoor enthusiast, moved into town two years ago with her boyfriend seeking recreation and a place to call home. Taking a job at the local non-profit, she inadvertently took sides in a bitter 20-year-old battle over land management. Now, four months pregnant, Stephanie navigates a town stuck in perpetual breakdown and questions whether she’s found the ideal community for her new family.

The film GO THROUGH THE DARK tells a story about the challenges of an 11-year-old blind boy and his father who depend on each other. The boy’s blindness, family background, and society they live in—which block them from chasing their dream to make the boy a professional Go player, and the tough decisions they need to make on the way of pursuing dream.

DON'T PUT HER DOWN explores how Hazel Dickens, along with her musical partner Alice Gerard, became the first women to front a bluegrass band and reflects on the role of women in bluegrass today. The film covers Hazel’s migration to Baltimore from coal country West Virginia, her activism for coal miners and working people, and the impact her upbringing had on her songwriting. Lifelong collaborators and up-and-coming musicians share what it means to have bluegrass songs written from a woman’s point of view and keep Hazel’s memory alive.

Eighteen-year-old Aaliyah flies on aerial silks. Her 16-year-old cousin Bre twirls on hoops. They dream of escaping the violence that marred their young lives. Their possible ticket out is the after-school program Trenton Circus Squad. Now that Covid-19 has changed everything, will the circus and the girls’ dreams survive?

Film distribution in the 21st century is constantly changing. Join a panel of film distribution company representatives for a discussion on the evolving media landscape. Topics will include: video on demand, streaming services, self-distribution, and how to develop a multi-pronged distribution strategy. This panel is moderated by Joe Brown, filmmaker and professor of film at the University of Denver. The panel includes Marc Mauceri from First Run Features, Jeffrey Winter from The Film Collaborative, and Kym Stanton from Films for Change.