Now Showing @ ALA Film Program
The Now Showing @ ALA Film Program features films, shorts, trailers, and documentaries from the world over from Saturday through Monday.
Saturday, June 27
June 27: 8:00am - 9:00am CT
Bibliothèque publique
Every day, regulars, students, and casual visitors come to seek refuge at the Bibliothèque publique d'information (Public Information Library) in the heart of Paris. Wandering among the crowds, between the shelves and in the margins of the library, we encounter inspired students, enlightened amateurs, hardened loners, idle regulars, feverish artists... By utilizing one or another of the thousands of cultural resources at their disposal, each person "inhabits" the library in their own way. And each shares with us their way of being inspired by a text, a piece of music, or a video. A public space for private ecstasy, the library becomes a temple for an unexpected community.
Running Time: 50 minutes
Writer and Director: Clément Abbey
Production Company: CVB- Brussels Video Center
Sponsored by: myfilmfriend
June 27: 9:00am - 10:00am CT
THE ARCTIC: OUR LAST GREAT WILDERNESS - Documentary Film & Education Campaign
Experience a place worth protecting! Imagine a vast, wild, and magical place in the far north of Alaska where one of earth's greatest natural spectacles unfolds. Discover a land that has evolved intact and untamed since the beginning of time, a world few have truly seen until now. Join National Geographic photographer Florian Schulz and Gwich'in storyteller Princess Daazhraii Johnson to experience this special place worth protecting. "THE ARCTIC: Our Last Great Wilderness" is a 45-minute film suitable for families, students, and nature lovers of all ages. The film is available free-of-charge to libraries and community organizations for member screenings, and is accompanied by supporting materials including a mobile exhibit, education materials, the "We Are The Arctic" book, and digital assets.
Running Time: 45 minutes
Writers: Myles Connolly, Florian Schulz, Victoria Curtis
Directors: Myles Connolly, Florian Schulz
Production Company: Cosmic Pictures, Terra Mater Factual Studios
Sponsored by: Protect The Arctic
June 27: 10:15am - 12:00pm CT
STORY & PICTURES BY
Attend a special screening of the documentary film STORY & PICTURES BY and then stay for a special Q&A with director Joanna Rudnick, executive producer and children's book author Hallee Adelman, and educator and children's lit specialist Jonda McNair.
STORY & PICTURES BY is the first feature documentary to take audiences behind the scenes to meet the boundary pushers who create children’s picture books. The film follows Christian Robinson, Yuyi Morales, and Mac Barnett—the stars of the new "golden age" of kids lit— as they create experimental work that reflects the mysteries of childhood, champions the marginalized, and provides children with windows and mirrors, even when the creators' own lives are not fairy tales. Through rare archival, untapped insights, and stop-motion paper animation, we also come to understand why classics such as “Goodnight Moon,” “Where the Wild Things Are,” “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “The Snowy Day, ” changed the art form and stand the test of time.
Running Time: 86 minutes
Director: Joanna Rudnick
Production Company: Storied Studios in association with: World of Ha Productions, Alba Collis, Nika Media, Bird Street Productions, Kartemquin Filmz
June 27: 1:00pm - 2:15pm CT
Farming While Black
In FARMING WHILE BLACK, Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm, reflects on the plight of Black farmers in the United States. From the height of Black-owned farms at 14% in 1910 to less than 2% today. Leah and her Soul Fire Farm cohorts help propel a rising generation finding strength in the deep historical knowledge of African agrarianism - and its potential to save the planet.
Running Time: 75 minutes
Writer & Director: Mark Decena
Production Company: Kontent Films
June 27: 2:30pm - 3:00pm CT
Bringing The American Revolution to Life in Your Library-Free Resources for the Semiquincentennial and Beyond
Join us for an engaging session showcasing selections from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, the acclaimed PBS documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. This powerful series explores how thirteen colonies forged a new nation and sparked a global movement for democracy - offering rich, human-centered storytelling that resonates deeply with today's audiences. As the United States approaches its Semiquincentennial, libraries have a unique opportunity to lead meaningful community conversations. PBS and WETA are offering a robust suite of free resources to support your programming. These include curated screening reels, book lists, book bingo, discussion guides, exhibits, trivia, and much more. All are designed to spark dialogue around themes like liberty, equality, and civic engagement. In this session, you'll hear directly from library leaders who have used these to successfully engage their communities with impactful programs. They'll share practical insights and creative strategies to inspire your own programming. Discover how your library can leverage storytelling, history, and free tools to deepen community connections, foster critical conversations, and position your institution as a hub for learning, reflection, and civic engagement during the Semiquincentennial and beyond.
Running Time: 20 minutes
Writer: Geoffrey C. Ward
Directors: Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt
Production Company: Florentine Films
June 27: 3:30pm - 5:00pm CT
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
In FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF, a charismatic high-school student convinces his repressed best friend to play hooky with him and his girlfriend and attempts to bring the young man out of his shell during a memorable day in Chicago.
Running Time: 103 minutes
Writer & Director: John Hughes
Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Sponsored by: Film and Media Round Table of ALA, in association with Swank Digital Campus
Sunday, June 28
June 28: 8:00am - 10:00am CT
Riefenstahl
Filmmaker and Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahl is considered one of the most controversial women of the 20th century. Her films Triumph of the Will and Olympia are defined by their fascist aesthetics, perfectly-staged body worship, and the celebration of all that is "superior" and victorious, simultaneously projecting contempt for the imperfect and weak. But Riefenstahl spent decades after the war denying her association with Nazi ideology, and claiming ignorance of the Holocaust. RIEFENSTAHL examines this question using never-before-seen documents from Leni Riefenstahl's estate, including private films, photos, recordings and letters, uncovering fragments of her biography and placing them in an extended historical context. During her long life after the fall of Nazism, she remained unapologetic, managing to control and shape her legacy; in personal documents, she mourns her "murdered ideals." Meanwhile, her work would experience a renaissance, gaining esteem for its masterful technical skill. Today, Riefenstahl's aesthetics are more present than ever. Is that also true for their message? In an era where fascism is on the rise again, fake news is prevalent, and the meaning of political imagery is constantly dissected and debated, Andres Veiel's mesmerizing new film shows that Leni Riefenstahl is more relevant than ever.
Running Time: 115 minutes
Writer & Director: Andres Veiel
Production Company: Kino Lorber
Sponsored by: Kino Lorber
June 28: 10:30am - 12:00pm CT
Sally Is Sarah Productions: Re-imagining Story Access for Children who Struggle with Literacy
Bridging communities through stories. SALLY IS SARAH PRODUCTIONS was founded on the idea that stories can bring us together. We celebrate each person's uniqueness and understand that our differences are just as valuable as our similarities. Our films are based on beloved children's storybook and brought to life in American Sign Language, sound design, animation, captions and music. We feature Deaf actors presenting the stories of inspiring characters who, despite the obstacles they encounter, find a way to chart their own paths. Our aim is to reach, educate and showcase people with all types of abilities, backgrounds and experiences. Our ultimate goal is to make art where people feel included in and proud of their communities.
Two running times: 20 minutes each
Writers: The films are based on "Red - A Crayon's Story," by Michael Hall and "Knitting for Dogs," by Laurel Molk
Director: Sarah Michaelson
Production Company: Sally Is Sarah Productions, LLC
June 28: 1:00pm - 3:00pm CT
Twin Engines Global: The First Hymn
In the ancient ruins of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, archaeologists unearthed a papyrus scrap containing the earliest known Christian hymn, complete with both its lyrics and musical notation. Analyzed at Oxford University, this discovery challenges traditional views of church history by revealing the rich musical practices of early believers. Hosted by Australian historian John Dickson, THE FIRST HYMN is a feature-length documentary that follows an ancient song from its desert origins to its rediscovery today. As the story unfolds, composers Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding reimagine the melody for modern worship, leading to a live concert performance.
Running Time: 1 Hour, 27 minutes
Writer & Director: Mark Hadley
Production Company: Undeceptions
Sponsored by: Hoopla Digital
June 28: 3:30pm - 5:00pm CT
ACLU's Know Your Rights University
Created by the ACLU, Know Your Rights University (KYR-U) is a new animated series that teaches kids bite-sized but important lessons about civics, constitutional rights, and free expression. Inspired by classics like Schoolhouse Rock and Bill Nye, KYR-U makes learning about our rights and freedoms fun and easy, and comes at a time when being able to fully engage in our communities couldn't be more critical.
Running Time: 25 minutes
Writers: Joe Pontillo and Musa Brooker, with educational advisement by Natalie Engel
Directors: Brandon Lake, Abdool Corlette
Production Company: American Civil Liberties Union, Threadwood
Sponsored by: American Civil Liberties Union
Monday, June 29
June 29: 8:00am - 10:00am CT
The Inquisitor
In 1972, Barbara Jordan became the first Southern Black woman to join Congress. THE INQUISITOR chronicles Representative Jordan's meteoric rise offering a blueprint for uniting a divided America through a turbulent political era.
Running Time: 1 Hour, 38 minutes
Director: Angela Lynn Tucker
Production Company: TuckerGurl Inc.
Sponsored by: Women Make Movies — Distributor