The 2014 Margaret Mead Film Festival—the preeminent showcase for contemporary cultural media and conversation in the unique setting of the American Museum of Natural History—will screen 44 outstanding films from more than 50 countries and host special events and performances from Thursday, October 23, through Sunday, October 26.
This year, the festival’s selections—including 14 U.S. premieres—will focus on the tension between tradition and its contemporary relevance. With the theme “Past Forward,” the Mead explores how cultural touchstones needn’t be trapped in amber but can burst through as beacons for navigating modern life. The festival explores several overlapping themes such as how rituals and music awaken the rhythms that shape our lives, the sacredness of traditional language and shared history, and how individuals draw on their cultural heritage to thrive in today’s world.
“Each year, the filmmakers, artists, and scholars presented at the Mead delight us with exquisite imagery and storytelling, at the same time provoking us to redefine our understanding of cultures and peoples around the world,” said Ruth Cohen, senior director of education strategic initiatives and director of the Center for Lifelong Learning at the Museum. “Continuing to honor the legacy of Margaret Mead and mining the rich collections and research in anthropology at American Museum of Natural History, the festival provides each audience member with the opportunity to discover, contemplate and in a way, determine, our shared human journey.”
The American Museum of Natural History’s Margaret Mead Film Festival was founded in honor of pioneering anthropologist Margaret Mead, one of the first anthropologists to recognize the significance of film for fieldwork. It encompasses a broad spectrum of work, from indigenous community media to experimental nonfiction, and is distinguished by its outstanding selection of titles, which tackle diverse and challenging subjects, representing a range of issues and perspectives, and by the forums for dialogue with filmmakers, invited speakers, and film protagonists.
This year’s films shed light on contemporary culture through the work of filmmakers from countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, Poland, and Vietnam. With more than 40 filmmakers and protagonists in attendance this year, the festival’s post-screening discussions will allow audiences to participate in rich, engaging, and intimate conversations.