BIFF CARES Looks at Issues Touching the Local Community

Each season, the Beloit International Film Festival presents new and compelling independent film projects that shed light on health and wellness issues touching our lives. This year, BIFF CARES, sponsored by the Beloit Health System (with additional funding from Hendricks Family Foundation) will present three films exploring issues relating to women in the military, the personal challenges of professional first responders, and an animated view of autism and one of its victims.

PTS911 is a feature length documentary focused on first responders and their jobs that require a willingness to face things that most of us can’t even imagine while maintaining a high level of dignity and professionalism. Suicide rates among first responder groups in the U.S. are higher than the general population with firefighters and police officers more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. Filmmaker Conrad Weaver takes a close look at this phenomenon. He will be on hand at the screening accompanied by three of the first responders in the film as well as local first responders. PTS911 will be screened twice at La Casa Grande, Fri., March 3, at 5 p.m. and Sat., March 4, at noon. (These events received additional funding from Hendricks Family Foundation).

Once again, The Harlem Veteran Project, a classroom project at Harlem High School in Machesney Park, Ill., will share its most recent documentary. Take Your Own Notes highlights the unique stories of five women, their shared military experiences and their impact on family and local communities. The feature documentary, which includes discussion of domestic abuse, PTSD, sexual assault and suicide is designed to cultivate an open dialogue. Teacher Nicholas Stange and his students have interviewed more than 200 veterans and produced 150 documentaries over the past 15 years.

My Name is David is an animated short from filmmaker Matthew Manning. It celebrates the life and work of David Shapiro Sharif, a global autism advocate, using his powerful voice and message as the basis for this five-minute claymation video. His speech highlights his various strengths and challenges, serving as an informative and educational tool.

Take Your Own Notes and My Name is David will be screened together on Sat., Mar 4 at 5 pm at La Casa Grande and Sun., Mar 5 at noon at the Hendricks Center for the Arts.

About Beloit International Film Festival

2023 marks the 18th season of the Beloit International Film Festival, the region’s major international cultural event. BIFF is generously sponsored by the Hendricks Family Foundation and Visit Beloit in association with Beloit College. Support for the Festival comes from area businesses and civic organizations, and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Critical individual support for BIFF is provided through gifts and membership in the BIFF Film Society of Beloit.

BIFF CARES Looks at Issues Touching the Local Community

Each season, the Beloit International Film Festival presents new and compelling independent film projects that shed light on health and wellness issues touching our lives. This year, BIFF CARES, sponsored by the Beloit Health System (with additional funding from Hendricks Family Foundation) will present three films exploring issues relating to women in the military, the personal challenges of professional first responders, and an animated view of autism and one of its victims.

PTS911 is a feature length documentary focused on first responders and their jobs that require a willingness to face things that most of us can’t even imagine while maintaining a high level of dignity and professionalism. Suicide rates among first responder groups in the U.S. are higher than the general population with firefighters and police officers more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. Filmmaker Conrad Weaver takes a close look at this phenomenon. He will be on hand at the screening accompanied by three of the first responders in the film as well as local first responders. PTS911 will be screened twice at La Casa Grande, Fri., March 3, at 5 p.m. and Sat., March 4, at noon. (These events received additional funding from Hendricks Family Foundation).

Once again, The Harlem Veteran Project, a classroom project at Harlem High School in Machesney Park, Ill., will share its most recent documentary. Take Your Own Notes highlights the unique stories of five women, their shared military experiences and their impact on family and local communities. The feature documentary, which includes discussion of domestic abuse, PTSD, sexual assault and suicide is designed to cultivate an open dialogue. Teacher Nicholas Stange and his students have interviewed more than 200 veterans and produced 150 documentaries over the past 15 years.

My Name is David is an animated short from filmmaker Matthew Manning. It celebrates the life and work of David Shapiro Sharif, a global autism advocate, using his powerful voice and message as the basis for this five-minute claymation video. His speech highlights his various strengths and challenges, serving as an informative and educational tool.

Take Your Own Notes and My Name is David will be screened together on Sat., Mar 4 at 5 pm at La Casa Grande and Sun., Mar 5 at noon at the Hendricks Center for the Arts.

About Beloit International Film Festival

2023 marks the 18th season of the Beloit International Film Festival, the region’s major international cultural event. BIFF is generously sponsored by the Hendricks Family Foundation and Visit Beloit in association with Beloit College. Support for the Festival comes from area businesses and civic organizations, and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Critical individual support for BIFF is provided through gifts and membership in the BIFF Film Society of Beloit.

BIFF - Beloit International Film Festival
BIFF | Beloit International Film Festival