NYS Writers Institute, February 6, 2015

7:00 p.m. Film screening and discussion | Page Hall, 135 Western Ave.,
Downtown Campus [Note the early start time]

CALENDAR LISTING:
Jason Osder, director of LET THE FIRE BURN(2013), a brilliant and widely-acclaimed documentary about the tragic 1985 fire-bombing of the headquarters of the Black liberation organization, MOVE, by the Philadelphia Police Department, will speak following a screening of the film on Friday, February 6, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. [note early start time] in Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue on the University at Albany Downtown Campus. Free and open to the public, the event is sponsored by the New York State Writers Institute in conjunction with UAlbany’s School of Criminal Justice’s Civility, Surveillance, and Public Spaces Film Series.

PROFILE
A screening of the documentary film, LET THE FIRE bURN (United States, 2013, 88 minutes, b/w and color),about events leading up to the tragic 1985 fire-bombing of the headquarters of the Black liberation organization, MOVE, by the Philadelphia Police Department, will be followed by a Q&A with award-winning director Jason Osder. The film is widely admired for its weaving together of archival footage into an energetic narrative that does not require the addition of voice-over narration.

The Washington Post said, “Directed with rigor and sensitivity by Jason Osder, this is the kind of nonfiction film that proves how powerful simple storytelling and a compelling through line can be.” The Variety reviewer said, “The brilliantly edited tapestry of actions and reactions exposes a pattern of prejudice and fear capable of infinitely repeating itself.” The Chicago Tribune said, “Director Jason Osder's grieving account of the deadly police assault on the MOVE collective’s fortified Philadelphia row house works small, continuous miracles with a variety of existing footage.”

Jason Osder was named Best New Documentary Filmmaker by the Special Jury of the Tribeca Film Festival. At that same festival, the film also received the award for Best Editing in a Documentary. Other award nominations include Best Documentary Feature at the Gotham Awards; Best Feature and Best Editing at the International Documentary Association Awards; and the Truer Than Fiction Award of the Independent Spirit Awards Festival.

Osder teaches documentary filmmaking at George Washington University in the School of Media and Public Affairs. He is also coauthor of the filmmaking guide, Final Cut Pro Workflows: The Independent Studio Handbook (2007). He has recently been contacted by the Department of Homeland Security who want to use LET THE FIRE BURN as part of Police Leadership Crisis Training.

A continuation of the Justice & Multiculturalism in the 21st Century film and speakers series, the Civility, Surveillance and Public Spaces Film Series represents an ongoing partnership between the University at Albany’s School of Criminal Justice and the NYS Writers Institute. The current series addresses issues relating to policing, civility, public behavior, civil liberties, security, and privacy.

For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at https://www.albany.edu/writers-inst.