The is underway through November 12 in venues throughout the city.
鈥淟ots of international films, American independent documentaries and many shorts,鈥� said Cliff Froehlich, executive director of Cinema St. Louis.
Among the many documentaries showing at the festival is which focuses on the efforts of the group to monitor and record police activity.
鈥淲hat we forget about are the people who are actually recording those films,鈥� said Rhaisa Williams, a postdoctoral fellow in Performing Arts Department at Washington University. 鈥淪o the documentary 鈥淐opwatch鈥� is very much about focusing on the people actually who did the filming and the fallout and aftermath that comes from doing that work.鈥�
Following the showing of the documentary, Williams will facilitate a discussion about issues raised in 鈥淐opwatch.鈥�
Related:
David Whitt is a member of We Copwatch and a prominent subject in the documentary.
鈥溾�機opwatch鈥� is really about citizens watching out for other citizens and the police knowing that you鈥檙e there to do just that,鈥� Whitt said.
鈥淚nitially the police were very rebellious,鈥� said Whitt about the police鈥檚 response to being filmed. 鈥淎s we continued to push the envelope with us filming, they kind of had got the message that we鈥檙e not going anywhere so they just figured out how to just cope with that.鈥�
Whitt said a lot of education and training goes into We Copwatch, as the organization attempts to both document and prevent violence.
鈥淲hat do you do after you film something?,鈥� Whitt asked. 鈥淚n cases like that with police harassment you don鈥檛 want people to think this is a good opportunity to start attacking police verbally, abusing them.鈥�
He said the goal is to gather evidence to provide in court, not necessarily to spread content on social media.
Related Events:
What: St. Louis International Film Festival Presents "Copwatch"
When: Nov. 5, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Brown Hall at Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63105
What: Cinema St. Louis 26th Annual St. Louis International Film Festival
When: November 2 - 12, 2017, various times and locations
brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host and producers and give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.
