Apr 4 2024

“The Hills” Documentary Screening and Q&A with Filmmaker

Collaboratory for Health Justice

April 4, 2024

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Location

109 SPHPI

Address

1603 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL

Zoom

https://uic.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsfuqhqjgsHdSrxJClLIcXllzPVhYp_xUn#/registration

Calendar

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Join the Collaboratory for Health Justice for a screening of The Hills. A documentary created by Ines Sommer, filmmaker and associate director of instruction at Northwestern University.

The Hills is a documentary about the steel industry's toxic legacy on Chicago's Southeast Side. Set against a backdrop of urban wilderness that's both seductively beautiful and poisoned, The Hills uses a lyrical lens to connect legacy pollution to current environmental struggles. Produced as part of Earth Art Chicago.

Watch documentary trailer HERE.

Pre-screening reception begins at 5:30 p.m.
Documentary begins screening at 6:00 p.m.
Q&A Panel immediately following documentary.

RSVP

Contact

Brenikki Floyd

brfloyd@uic.edu

Date posted

Mar 8, 2024

Date updated

Mar 28, 2024

Speakers

Ines Sommer, MFA | Filmmaker, Associate Professor of Instruction and Director of Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab | Northwestern University

Ines Sommer is a Chicago-based filmmaker, film programmer, and educator, who has directed character-driven documentaries alongside essay films and experimental projects. She is drawn to stories about the environment, rural life, politics, and history. Ines' directing credits include the MacArthur Foundation-supported grassroots democracy documentary Count Me In and the award-winning Seasons of Change on Henry's Farm, which follows Midwest organic farmer Henry Brockman as he grapples with the impact of climate change on his family farm. Her exploration of environmental issues continues with The Hills, which uses a lyrical lens to examine the toxic legacy of the steel industry in Chicago. Ines advocates for the regional documentary community and has long organized public programs, ranging from film series and festivals to the Doc Chicago initiative, which includes an annual mini- conference, screenings, and monthly filmmaker gatherings. She was included in New City magazine’s annual Film 50 list three times for being "one of 50 individuals who shape Chicago's film scene." Ines teaches fulltime at Northwestern University, where she currently serves as the Director of the Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab, a program that examines representations of mental health/illness on screen.

Yessenia Balcazar | Senior Resilient Community Planning Manager | Southeast Environmental Task Force

Serap Erdal | Associate Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences | UIC School of Public Health

Victoria Persky | Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics | UIC School of Public Health