Fighting the Good Fight: Shorts Program 1

‘Fighting the Good Fight: Shorts Program 1’
A group of concerned citizens, dedicated activists and stubborn residents prove that their communities and the environment are worth fighting for in this collection of documentary shorts.

“Refuge”: Twenty years ago, Lee Spencer started a months-long vigil to guard a pool of steelhead trout from poachers. Directed by Katie Falkenberg. 6 minutes.

“Fix and Release”: A small turtle trauma center in Ontario fights to increase the odds of survival that freshwater turtles face in a modern world. This visually beautiful film shows turtles in a way that few have seen before. Directed by Scott Dobson. 16 minutes.

“People First Project”: A group of citizens, activists and urban planners believe that Detroit’s roads should prioritize people over cars. They set out to make Michigan Avenue a more pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare. Directed by Stephen McGee. 25 minutes.

“The End of Delray”: In a city with plenty of rough neighborhoods, Delray is regarded as one of the worst. Now, the long-planned new bridge to Canada is slated to land right in the middle of Delray, wiping out much of the old Detroit neighborhood. Those who stay will be subject to a whole new level of noise and pollution. Directed by Ryan Garza and John Carlisle. 8 minutes.

“Water Warriors”: A multicultural group of unlikely warriors – including members of the Mi’kmaq Elsipogtog First Nation, French-speaking Acadians and white, English-speaking families – set up a series of road blockades, preventing exploration of natural gas by the Texas-based SWN Resources. Directed by Michael Premo. 21 minutes.

“The Issue of Mr. O’Dell”: Born and raised in Detroit, Jack O’Dell, a civil rights activist, worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and was harassed by the FBI for being a member of the Communist Party. Directed by Rami Katz. 35 minutes.

Presented by Freep Film Festival