WFF Presents: Maize in Times of War

MAIZE IN TIMES OF WAR is the first screening of new WFF fall program "Healthy Community Film Series."

"Making a milpa is an act of resistance, a profoundly political one." Maize in Times of War / Maíz en tiempos de guerra, is an immersive experience into the yearly cycle of four Indigenous maize gardens (called milpas due to the diversity of crops involved). Located in different regions of México, these farmers are México's corn protectors, planting ancient heritage seeds, and defending them against invasive "hybrid" & GMO varieties. This beautifully filmed documentary details the process of preparing the land, planting the milpa, the tenacity and the nuances involved in the growing process, and the resulting milpa harvest. In Indigenous languages with English subtitles.

Special Guest: The film's producer Herman Bellinghausen will be visiting from Mexico City for a post-screening conversation.

The Watsonville Film Festival is excited to partner with Growing Justice, Community Agroecology Network (CAN) and Mesa Verde Gardens to engage our audience in rich and thought-provoking conversations about local issues.

Come at 6PM to check out the interactive art exhibit titled "ROOT KNOWLEDGE," displaying the voices of community gardeners, farmworkers, youth, and mothers over the interrelated challenges of food insecurity, violence and the housing crisis. This is an interactive set up with components of a family kitchen guided through narratives collected by the Growing Justice youth research team in collaboration with CAN over the last two years.

INTERACTIVE ART EXHIBIT OPENS AT 6PM
MOVIE STARTS AT 7:15PM

The Harbourton Foundation and the Pájaro Valley Community Health Trust provided generous funding for this film series.