For Immediate Release
Monday, April 10, 2017
Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Educational Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org; Lisa Tawil, ITVS, (415) 356-8383, lisa_tawil@itvs.org
WSIU, Carbondale Library to Present Free Screening of Film About National Whistleblowers
Event to be Held Sat, April 29 at 2:30pm at the Carbondale Library
Carbondale, IL – Indie Lens Pop-Up, a community film and discussion series presented by ITVS, the PBS series Independent Lens, WSIU Public Broadcasting, and the Carbondale Public Library, are pleased to present a free screening of National Bird, a film by Sonia Kennebeck, on Saturday, April 29 at 2:30pm at the Carbondale Public Library, 405 W. Main.
A discussion led by a local moderator will follow the film.
National Bird follows three whistleblowers who, despite possible consequences, are determined to break the silence around one of the most controversial issues of our time: the secret U.S. drone war. The film gives rare insight through the eyes of both survivors and veterans who suffer from PTSD while plagued by guilt over participating in the killing of faceless people in foreign countries.
Viewer Advisory: National Bird is a film about the impact of war. It includes scenes that could be upsetting for some audience members, especially those who have experienced trauma, including veterans and refugees.
National Bird premieres on Independent Lens and WSIU-TV on Monday, May 1 at 9pm. Learn more and watch a preview online at wsiu.org/indielenspopup, pbs.org/independentlens/films/national-bird, or itvs.org/films/national-bird.
WSIU’s final Indie Lens Pop-Up screening of the 2016-2017 season will be held on Saturday, June 17 at 2:30pm at the Carbondale Public Library and will feature the Independent Lens film Real Boy.
Watch for updates on the air, online, and in the monthly WSIU program guide, Previews, available online at wsiu.org/previews, or contact WSIU Outreach Coordinator, Beth Spezia, at (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org.
Questions about Indie Lens Pop-Up screenings at the Carbondale Public Library should be directed to (618) 457-0345. Learn more about the community engagement series on WSIU’s local Indie Lens Pop-Up webpage at wsiu.org/indielenspopup or visit the project website at pbs.org/independentlens/indie-lens-pop-up.
About the Filmmaker
Sonia Kennebeck is an independent documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist with more than 15 years of directing and producing experience. She has directed eight television documentaries and more than 50 investigative reports. National Bird, her first feature-length film, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival 2016 and was also selected for Tribeca, Sheffield, and IDFA. Foreign Policy magazine recognized Kennebeck as one of 100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2016, and she was also selected as one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film 2016 by Filmmaker Magazine. Kennebeck received a master’s degree in international affairs from American University in Washington, D.C. She was born in Malacca, Malaysia and lives in New York, where she runs her own production company.
About Indie Lens Pop-Up
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on the PBS series Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics to family and relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation. Can't attend in person? Find Independent Lens on Facebook for information on our online Pop-Up events.
About Independent Lens
Independent Lens is an Emmy® Award-winning weekly series airing on PBS on select Monday nights at 9pm CT. The acclaimed series features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by Independent Television Service, the series is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, with additional funding from PBS and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens. Join the conversation at facebook.com/independentlens and on Twitter @IndependentLens.
About WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, and an education and community outreach department.
WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.
WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
About the Carbondale Public Library
The Carbondale Public Library provides resources and services to support the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of the Carbondale community. The library provides free services to all residents living within the city boundaries and is part of the Shawnee Library System.
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