Land Rush: Why Poverty

How to view: Full film available for streaming and download at http://www.whypoverty.net/en/all-about/land-rush/

Director: | Producer: BBC
Produced | Country: 
Run Time: 58:00 | Language: English

Synopsis:
75% of Mali’s population are farmers, but rich, land-hungry nations like China and Saudi Arabia are leasing Mali’s land in order to turn large areas into agribusiness farms. Many Malian peasants do not welcome these efforts, seeing them as yet another manifestation of imperialism. As Mali experiences a military coup, the developers are scared off – but can Mali’s farmers combat food shortages and escape poverty on their own terms?

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Half the Sky

How to view: On loan from the Boston office. Email tjayasinghe@oxfamamerica.org to request a copy.

Director: Robert Hanna & Wolfgang Held| Producer: Maro Chermayeff, Jamie Gordon, Mikaela Beardsley, Jeff Dupre
Produced: 2012 | Country: USA
Run Time: 3:52:00 | Language: English

Synopsis: Inspired by Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl Wudinn's groundbreaking book, Half the Sky: Turning Opression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide takes one the central moral challenge of the 21st century: the oppression of women and girls worldwide. This film adaptation follows 6 actresses/activists and New York Times journalist Kristof to meet some of the most courageous individuals of our time, who are doing extraordinary work to empower women and girls everywhere. There are stories of heartbreaking challenge, dramatic transformation and enduring hope. The outcome has left all who view it inspired by the resilience of the human spirit and the capabilities of women and girls to realize their staggering potential. 

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Better Weather

How to view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aBI5dVwpHcU#at=19

Director: | Producer:
Produced: 2013 | Country: USA
Run Time: 3:34 | Language: English

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Land hunt for greedy investors

How to view: Available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDoM6a0B7TY

Director: | Producer:
Produced: Oxfam GB| Country: Great Britain
Run Time: 6:45 | Language: English

Synopsis: Stages a hypothetical land grab on a residential area in the U.K. to illustrate the brutality of land grabs and puts the responsibility directly on the greed of large corporations. 

Opinion: Part of Oxfam Internationals 2012 appeal having to do with land grabs, so a little outdated. However, the impact and message about land grabs is still relevant.

Recommendation: Good for a film festival, an introduction to land grabs. 

The Big Banana

How to view:  visit http://thebigbananamovie.com/home/ 

Director: | Producer:Franck Bieleu

Produced:  | Country: Cameroon

Run time:  85min
Language: French with English subtitles


Synopsis:  Food security suffers in the fertile farming area of Cameroon where banana plantations cultivate fruit for European markets.  Now the large multinational wants to own the residents' land too.
From the website:  The region of Njombe-Penja in the coast of Cameroon has a very fertile soil due to high volcanic property. Tropical fruit such as banana, pineapple or mango are widely cultivated for export toward the west, generating millions dollars profit to agro industrial companies. At first glance, a little paradise for the locals soon turns to nightmare.
With the new agreement APE (partnership agreement) between the ACP countries (Africa, Pacific, Caribbean) and Europe that allows free trade. Tropical fruit companies (The big Banana) are encouraged to increase their production to meet the western demand. Such an increase requires more land. Unavailable, the big banana begins expropriating farmers with the help of the local government, leaving land owner, and small farmers with nothing to fend for themselves and their families.

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Food Flight

Viewer: Brittany Collins

How to view: http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/food_flight

About:
Directors: Beth Biederman and Sarah Lazarovic | Producer:
Produced: 2008 | Country:
Run time: 5 minutes | Language: English

Synopsis: A filmmaker's exploration of where her food comes from.

Opinion: This short film seems very in line with the idea behind Sunday Dinners.  Text appears on screen with answers to the question, "Where do you think your food comes from?"  Answers range from honest to humorous.  Might be a good template for volunteers who host Sunday Dinners to create their own video summaries of their Dinners.

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Chocolate Country

Viewer: Brittany Collins

How to view: http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/chocolate_country

About:
Director: Robin Blotnick | Producer: 
Produced: 2010 | Country:
Run time: 5 minutes | Language:

Synopsis: In the backcountry of the Dominican Republic, poor cacao farmers have been fighting a losing battle with the global economy for as long as anyone can remember.  The Loma Guacnojo cooperative has found a way to turn the system on its head.

Opinion:
This short film shows how farmers unite in a cooperative, and how the middlemen are cut out of the system so that the farmers directly benefit more.  It's a great display of investing in small-scale food producers!

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