DC Labor FilmFest Reaches Out

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)The expanding global network of labor film festivals was the topic of a panel in late July at the 19th annual LaborFest in San Francisco, CA. DC Labor FilmFest Director Chris Garlock (at right in photo) joined Geraldine Hecker-Popov of the San Pedro Labor Fest, Jon Garlock (center in photo) of the Rochester Labor Film Series, and SF LaborFest host Steve Zeltzer (at left in photo) at a July 27 panel on “Labor Film Festivals Around the World: Where They Are and Where They Are Going.” In addition to discussing the upcoming 12th annual DC Labor FilmFest in October, Garlock focused on the FilmFest’s plans to host the Second Annual International Conference of Labor Film Festival Organizers, “a gathering intended to strengthen and build the community, enabling mutual aid and support that will help expand the nascent international labor filmfest movement.” Hecker-Popov credited last year’s inaugural Conference for providing critical guidance and support for this year’s first San Pedro Labor Fest. The tentative agenda for the 2012 Conference includes discussions on how each labor filmfest works, areas filmfest organizers are looking to improve, presentations/discussions with labor film experts, and practical ways labor filmfest organizers can help each other. The month-long San Francisco LaborFest includes dozens of labor-themed events, from film screenings to concerts, poetry readings, labor walks and more. - photo by Lori Allio