BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.--Gardner-Webb University Life of the Scholar (LOTS) Program is partnering with the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and the Cleveland County Arts Council to present the award-winning documentary Kifaru in Shelby, N.C. The film follows a dedicated team of rangers in Kenya who are watching over Sudan, the world's last male northern white rhino. Rampant poaching has decimated his subspecies, yet hope remains thanks to his incredible caregivers who are set on both preventing and recovering loss. Kifaru was the winner of the Environmental Award and Audience Award for best feature-length documentary at the 2019 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.
"Full Frame believes deeply in the importance of sharing documentary films with our entire state, and nurturing the conversations that draw us together on the many issues these films address," noted Deirdre Haj, Director of Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. "This work would not be possible without partnering with local groups such as the Cleveland County Arts Council and Gardner-Webb University. We look forward to finding ways to continue our work outside of the Triangle region with our fellow Carolinians."
Presented through the Common Ground series, the screening is free and will be held Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019 at Don Gibson Theatre in Shelby, North Carolina. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film will start at 7 p.m. Kifaru producer, Andrew Harrison Brown, will be available after the film for a time of discussion. The screening is free and open to the public, however RSVPs are recommended and can be made on Eventbrite. http://bit.ly/2owusaY
Unable to roam freely because of poaching, Sudan, his daughter Najin, and his granddaughter Fatu are under armed guard 24/7. In this visually--and emotionally--beautiful film, director David Hambridge gives witness to the humane and loving caretaking of Jacob, James, and JoJo, rangers at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Jacob runs and plays with Najin and Fatu. JoJo sits vigil when Sudan begins to ail, and James provides a mud bath and words of comfort to Sudan.
The Gardner-Webb LOTS program works to take experiences from the classroom into the wider community. The group sponsors lectures and hosts the annual Multidisciplinary Conference, which showcases the depth and diversity of undergraduate research on the GWU campus.
In partnership with Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and local arts organizations, Common Ground is a traveling program that facilitates free documentary screenings and discussions in small towns throughout North Carolina. The inaugural Common Ground presentation was a free screening of Won't You Be My Neighbor? at the Joy Performance Center in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, in October 2018.
Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 48 hours prior to the event. Please call 704.406.4264 or email servicerequests@gardner-webb.edu with your request.
The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is an annual international event dedicated to the theatrical exhibition of nonfiction cinema. Each spring, Full Frame welcomes filmmakers and film lovers from around the world to historic downtown Durham, North Carolina. To learn more about the mission of Full Frame, scheduled films, festival tickets, or how to support Full Frame, visit fullframefest.org.
Located in the North Carolina foothills, Gardner-Webb University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university. Gardner-Webb emphasizes a strong student-centered experience and rigorous academics to prepare students to become effective leaders within the global community. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.
Submitted by Jackie Bridges