Arkansas PBS > Engage > Pressroom > Community Cinema season launches in North Little Rock with screening of highly anticipated ‘Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide’

Community Cinema season launches in North Little Rock with screening of highly anticipated ‘Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide’

Posted 11 Sep 2012

The Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) and UALR Public Radio/KUAR FM 89.1 invite the public to a free advance screening of “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” as part of Community Cinema Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the program’s new venue, William F. Laman Public Library in North Little Rock. 

“We are very excited and honored to be partnering with AETN to engage our community through Community Cinema,” Laman Library Executive Director Jeff Baskin said. 

“Half The Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” is based on Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s best-selling book by the same name. Six actress-advocates – Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union, Diane Lane, America Ferrera and Olivia Wilde – join Kristof as he travels to Asia and Africa to meet with individuals working to influence change and the women and girls who confront extreme gender inequality every day. Women and girls around the globe daily face threats of trafficking, prostitution, violence and discrimination. “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” shows the fearless women and men who are developing innovative ways to turn the tide.

This special Community Cinema screening of “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” will preview one of six stories featured in the mini-series, which will air on AETN in two parts Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 1 and 2, at 8 each night. The film is also part of ITVS’ Women and Girls Lead Initiative.

The screening will be held in the auditorium of William F. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange Street, North Little Rock. A community discussion with Beth Miller, president of Miller Agricultural Consulting, will follow the screening. Additional information is available by calling AETN at 800-662-2386 or visiting aetn.org/communitycinema. 

Community Cinema, a free monthly screening series engaging communities through films produced by the Independent Television Service (ITVS), features monthly screenings followed by panel discussions with leading organizations, local communities and special guest speakers. The program is designed to help people learn about and get involved in the social issues raised in the documentaries. 

Women and Girls Lead is a multiyear public media initiative to focus, educate and connect citizens worldwide in support of the issues facing women and girls. Combining independent documentary film, television, new media and global outreach partnerships, Women and Girls Lead amplifies the voices of women and girls, expands understanding of gender equity, and engages an international network of citizens and organizations to act locally and reach out globally. 

The mission of the William F. Laman Public Library is to maintain and improve the quality of life for the community by providing resources that enhance and contribute to literacy and foster community engagement with information, culture and civic life. 

The mission of UALR Public Radio is to deepen insight into the human experience, empower decision-making and enrich the lives of those we serve through quality news and cultural programs. UALR Public Radio operates two radio stations in Little Rock – KUAR FM 89.1, which broadcasts news, jazz and cultural programs including national programming from NPR, and KLRE 90.5, which broadcasts classical music.