Fall programming has kicked off for the “Bright Lights Film Series,” which is directed by Local 888 activist Anna Feder. The union is a co-sponsor of the series, which is screening 12 films altogether with a focus on social justice.
Generally, screenings will be available for streaming beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, with tickets — which are free — opening up at noon. Screenings continue through Thursday at 7 p.m., when Bright Lights offers a moderated discussion of the current film, which is also free.
The lineup includes, Nov. 3 and 4, “Soy Cubana,” which means I’m Cuban, a documentary about the Vocal Vidas, an all-female a cappella Cuban quartet. Tickets, which are free, are available at noon Nov. 3. For more information, see https://websites.emerson.edu/brightlights/2021/08/24/soy-cubana/. The film focuses on the group’s first show in the U.S., which involves a journey across the Caribbean, international barriers and political disputes. The Vocal Vidas are a part of the sound of Santiago de Cuban, the cradle of the island nation’s Afro-Cuban music.
Also coming up, Nov. 10 and 11: The documentary “Not Going Quietly” shows how a diagnosis of ALS upends the life of young progressive activist Ady Barkan. Later a confrontation with Republican U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake goes viral, catapulting Barkan to national fame. He and a motley crew of activists spark a political movement called “Be a Hero,” which argues for health care justice for all Americans. For more information, see https://websites.emerson.edu/brightlights/2021/08/24/not-going-quietly/.
Also coming up, Nov. 17 and 18: “No Ordinary Man,” which focuses on the life of Billy Lipton, a transgender man who was a reputable jazz musician and had a touring and recording career. The film celebrates Lipton as a musician living his life according to his own terms and gender identity. For more information, see https://websites.emerson.edu/brightlights/2021/08/24/no-ordinary-man/.