Washblog

The new documentary, LIONESS, screens for free at SIFF Cinema on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM.  The film will be followed by a discussion featuring local female veterans as well as staff from the VA Puget Sound Health System Women's Clinic.  SIFF Cinema is located in the Nelsholm Family Lecture Hall on the lower level of Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at Seattle Center in the heart of Seattle's theatre district.

LIONESS, a new film by Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers, tells the untold story of a group of female Army support soldiers who became the first women in American history to be sent into direct ground combat. Against official policy and without the training given to their male counterparts, but with a firm commitment to serve as needed, these dedicated young women ended up fighting in some of the bloodiest counterinsurgency battles of the Iraq war. Yet these women are rarely--if ever-- mentioned in news accounts of those battles.  The version of LIONESS shown at this screening event has been modified from its original feature length by the filmmakers to allow more time for audience discussion.  This version of LIONESS is approximately 65 minutes.

As with all free Community Cinema Seattle events, LIONESS will include a panel discussion featuring local female veterans of different wars and U.S. conflicts as well as staff from the VA Puget Sound Health System Women's Clinic.  Nationwide, over 60,000 people have attended over 800 Community Cinema events in cities large and small since 2005.

You don't have to, but you can reserve a seat in case the film sells out by sending your reservation for up to 10 people to lioness@communitycinema.org

ITVS Community Cinema Seattle is presented by KCTS9 Television Seattle, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, The City of Seattle Office for Civil Rights, and the Seattle International Film Festival.  The VA Northwest Regional Office and  VA Puget Sound Health System Women's Clinic helped immensely to make this event happen.

Community Cinema Seattle was named "Best Film Series In Seattle" by Seattle Metropolitan magazine in July 2008, and we're still 100% free.

WHAT:   Special community screening of Lioness and discussion with local vets
WHEN:   Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 2:30 PM (doors at 2:00 PM)
WHERE:  SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer Street at 3rd Avenue (McCaw Hall) Seattle, 98109
WHO:    ITVS, KCTS, KBCS FM, SOCR, VA, & SIFF
HOW:    Free. For more information visit http://communitycinema.org/

You don't have to, but you can reserve a seat in case the film sells out by sending your reservation for up to 10 people to lioness@communitycinema.org