SMAD sponsors Reel Change Film Festival from April 11-14

The 8th annual Reel Change Film Festival returns to Court Square Theater in downtown Harrisonburg between April 11-14 to showcase documentaries about issues relevant to the JMU and Harrisonburg communities.

The event, which runs from 7-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, will feature one film each evening followed by a question-and-answer session with those involved in the documentary, experts on the film's topics and community members.

The event is free and open to the public.

And in addition to being sponored by SMAD, JMU Libraries, the College of Arts and Letters, the Department of Justice Studies and the School of Communication Studies are all sponsors, as well.

Here's this years's lineup:

"Inhabitants" (2020) at 7 p.m. Monday, April 11, at Court Square Theater 

“The film follows five Native American Tribes across deserts, coastlines, forests, and prairies as they restore their traditional land management practices.”

"Missing in Brooks County" (2021) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at Court Square Theater

“Two families search for their loved ones who went missing in the fields of Brooks County, Texas after crossing from Mexico and find a sobering truth: the deadliest part of the journey is far from the border. “

"A Thousand Cuts" (2021) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, at Court Square Theater

“Journalist Maria Ressa risks her life and freedom as an outspoken critic of Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.”

"Us Kids" (2020) at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at Court Square Theater

“After a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School claims 17 lives, a number of students rally themselves around the tragedy as an opportunity to speak out against the national gun violence epidemic.”