American/Sandinista

On Wednesday (4/01/09) we heard from documentary filmmaker Jason Blalock. His documentary American/Sandinista follows a small group of young American engineers traveling and working in Nicaragua During the 1980s.

Despite the danger, thousands of Americans disobeyed White House warnings and descended upon Central America, determined to lend their skills and labor to the revolutionary Sandinista cause.

Using a mixture of rare archival footage, still photography, and contemporary interviews, Blalock's explores revolutionary activism, and the costs of idealism.

American/Sandinista won the film & video category of the Eisner Prize, and has shown in L.A., Portland, Chicago, Palm Springs, Nevada City, Denver and... Arkansas, enjoying it's Bay Area premiere at the (awesome) International Latino Film Festival last November in San Francisco.

It hit screens again last week at the 10th Fairfax Documentary Film Festival, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Fairfax Theater.

Now, that’s using your media.