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Who is Malden Finale: Exhibition and Roundtable Discussion (Event #4)
October 28, 2023 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT
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As part of the Filmbuilding Malden: Our City in Motion program, the City of Malden and Urban Media Arts (UMA) is pleased to invite the public to enjoy a series of free screening events that will showcase short films that offer a unique lens to Malden and its people, places, nature, culture, and history. Each film screening will include a time for interactive discussion.
About this event
The “Who is Malden Film Series” culminates in a two-hour exhibition and program that will showcase the films, display behind the scenes video and photos, and offer visuals of the basic impacts/statistics of the program. The public will enjoy a museum-style display, with rooms set up to loop the films; photos, maps, and visuals of program statistics; a roundtable discussion; and a collegial atmosphere that allows for informal conversation.
Program Schedule – 3:00 to 5:00pm
- 3:00 – Doors Open to exhibition area
- 3:15 – Films screened at various stations
- 4:00 – Opening remarks by Mayor Gary Christenson
- 4:05-5:00pm – Roundtable Discussion
- 5:00 – Exhibition Closes
Download Program
Films Screened
Behind the Scenes Documentary by UMA Interns Sydney Roth, Zachary Bennett, and Yipeng (Nicole) Kong.
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Footprints of Malden – By Kobena Bonney, Pamela Bronder-Giroux, Maryanne Smith, Karen Lynch, and Hannibal Rosa, with assistance from Dan Girmus
A group of strangers all connected to the city of Malden band together to answer the question: Who is Malden? This short film is an exploration of places, people, and organizations that make up a diverse community. Through a tableau of colorful scenes and lively interviews, these filmmakers discover that the identity of Malden encompasses both the past and present, the individual and collective, and the simple and profound.
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Green Elephant – By Doc Havey, Martha Bezzat, Alex Onuoha, Jessica Frazier Vasquez, with assstance from Nasara Hassan
In a collection of personal perspectives from current residents and dialogues with community leaders, the makers of this short documentary-style film examine the rental and housing landscape in the city of Malden. As the cost of living rises and home ownership becomes a distant dream for lower-income folks and communities of color, can Malden hold on to its celebrated history as a hub of cultural and economic diversity?
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Malden, a Place to Eat – By Rydia Vielehr and Nikita Sampath, with assistance from Asma Khoshmehr and Jozef Kobenoski
Join these filmmakers as they explore food and restaurant hidden gems and hotspots in the city of Malden. This culinary journey is rich with scenes from coffee shops, public gardens, bistros, and more. In celebration of Malden’s many different cultures and ethnic communities, this short film touches on one of the reasons for our collective fascination with food: it connects us to where we are, where we’re from, and where we want to be.
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What Was, What is – By Ethan MacAdam, Mike Tessier, Jodi Moran, Parto Khorshidi, and Shiva Mishra, with assistance from Alex Nezam
With special attention to the visual poetry of natural and urban landscapes, this short film carefully strips down the character of the city of Malden to a brief snapshot of the past and present. These filmmakers curate moving image vignettes of sleepy suburban pockets, bustling downtown areas, and intimate interviews from long-time residents. What’s left is a subtle, poignant, and honest reflection on the people and places of Malden.
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Understory – By Yana Lapaix, Karen Buck, Bijay Ghising, Tai Lam, and CD Collins, with assistance from Bilal Sa’ed.
An educator gets in touch with her cultural origins. A young man searches for connection in a post-quarantine world. A poet reconciles her current life with her Southern roots. A painter explores environmental activism through her art. These deeply personal stories of four Malden residents are part of a short film that examines the relationship between nature, community, and identity.
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River Ran Through Here – By Josh Perry, Mavi Ruiz, Conrad Mitala, and Sophie Trang Luong.
This short film was created by four Malden residents and first-time filmmakers for a weekend-long companion program called “Filmbuilding Blast” that took place in June of 2022. Together, they produced a tender, multilayered, and thoughtful reflection on the Malden River – its history, future, and significance as a metaphor for Malden’s cultural evolution and economic revitalization.
Roundtable Discussion Panelists
RSVP to gain access to a digital program.
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About the Film Series
Though Malden is a place, one can ask “who it is” as if it breathes and has a story. This is the idea behind the prompt 23 members of Malden’s community explored together through film as they participated in the Filmbuilding Malden: Our City in Motion program that took place this summer and fall. As part of their collaborative filmmaking process, they shared their films with the public at a series of free screening events held in September and October 2023.
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Image credit: graphic design by Grace Julian Murthy; artwork by Grace Julian Murthy and Gallery @57 Artists.
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This program and screenings is funded by City of Malden and the Massachusetts Cultural Council
