The number of attendees was down at the Fifth Annual No Boundaries Film Club’s Traveling World Community Film Festival (TWCF), but enthusiasm was high, nonetheless. Larry Hudema, one of the organizers, suspects that the timing might have been off slightly with the wrap up of the Olympics taking place over the same three days. The festival featured 19 documentary films from around the world dealing primarily with social justice, environmental and human rights issues.

The subject matter separates the TWCF from other documentary film festivals by focusing on ongoing issues and problems. Hudema acknowledged that the festival had been criticized for the heaviness of its subject matter and said that this year an effort had been made to provide films that were inspirational. The films Body and Soul, Her Sight Is Worth It, Infinite Vision and Smile Pinki all concerned the efforts of medical professionals and others to assist those with disabilities. Rebecca’s Wild Farm and Good Food concentrated on the development of sustainable agriculture and sources of food. According to Grand Forks resident and peace activist Laura Savinkiff, the organizers succeeded in their goal. Savinkoff particularly liked Pray the Devil Back To Hell, a film about women in Liberia who organized and then halted the internal civil war that was destroying the country. “It highlights the fact that we the people can make a difference if we wish to do so,” Savinkoff said. She added, “It gives me encouragement and the sense of building community, that you can build something without knowing how. That was really inspiring.”

Four of the films, Under Rich Earth, Sweet Crude, H2Oil and Justicia Now, dealt with the effects of oil exploration and mining on people and the environment both in Canada and in developing countries. Those films and two related to the realities of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Good Morning, Kandahar and Soldiers of Conscience provided behind the scenes glimpses that are not available elsewhere. Steve Bradburn, visiting from Republic, Washington said, “This is the second year I have been here. I saw all the films. They are very impactful, but they are real, and they are telling a true story. I don’t think we hear the truth about a lot of things in the United States or Canada, and even though it is hard to sit through the truth sometimes, I really value that instead of being told something that is not the truth.”

Savinkoff agreed. “Some people came by the (Boundary Peace Initiative) table where I was working and said, ‘It’s so depressing what they have to go through,’ but I said, ‘It’s not. Look at that; why can’t we do that? If we are really concerned about some of the situations in our own country, what’s stopping us?’”

Grand Forks resident Gilles Messier said he always goes to the festival and was very pleased with this year’s showing. “I saw more than half of the movies and really enjoyed them. It is not only important for Grand Forks, but it is important to the south side of the border that don’t get anything like this,” he said. “Once a year is not enough.”

“It is an opportunity for people to learn about what is going on in the world that should not be missed,” Savinkoff said. “Hopefully the film festival can continue, but it needs more support from the community.”

The No Boundaries Film Club will be using the profits made at the festival to purchase some of this year’s films for the Grand Forks Library permanent collection. Over the past five years they have purchased 17 films.