NEWS

Welcome to the website of Anne Lewis, independent filmmaker associated with Appalshop, editor, and senior lecturer at the University of Texas - Austin.

Here you will find information and materials related to documentary films for social action, economic justice, and in celebration of Appalachian culture.

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July 15 (Wednesday) at 5:30 -- Screening, "Justice in the Coalfields" the Roxie Theatre - 3117 16th Str., SF.. We are proud to be part of LaborFest 2009 which celebrates the 75th anniversary of the San Francisco General Strike.
It is the 20-year anniversary of the Pittston strike and "Justice in the Coalfields" tells the story from the miners' perspective. For a review of the film, click here. A remastered dvd is available here with songs by Elaine Purkey. See the trailer for "Justice in the Coalfields."

"Mine War on Blackberry Creek" (1986) is streamed on this site and through Appalshop. The documentary reports on the United Mine Workers of America strike against A.T. Massey, America's fourth largest coal company. It includes our interview with Massey CEO Don Blankenship recently listed on AlterNet as one of "the 13 scariest Americans." Richard A. Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer and most likely future President of the AFL-CIO, expresses union values. The film includes ties to South Africa under apartheid; at times amusing footage filmed by A.T. Massey guards; dramatic video by UMWA coalminer Jerry Bannister; and conversations with striking miners, retirees, family strike supporters, and strikebreakers. It concludes with music by Rocky Peck, later killed in a mine accident. A remastered DVD soon will be available.

The "Morristown: in the Air and Sun" trailer aired on national Free Speech TV as part of a program about the auto industry. GRITtv with Laura Flanders. The film will be broadcast on Free Speech TV. Please stay tuned for schedule. See the trailer for "Morristown: in the air and sun"

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"High Stakes" (renamed "A Tender Promise: Education Story") received a City of Austin cultural contract to continue production of a documentary that looks at the public school education of Latino, African American, and working class children. We are visiting students who participated when we filmed their 5th grade class. They are now in high school.