In celebration of National Recovery Month during the month of September, the City of Boston today announced the Recovery Month Documentary Film Series. Three documentary feature films will be screened at the Boston Public Library’s Central Library in Copley Square throughout the month of September. Each film will be paired with a post-screening panel discussion composed of local and national experts. This film series is sponsored by RIZE Massachusetts Foundation and was organized by the City of Boston’s Office of Arts and Culture, Office of Recovery Services, Boston Public Library, and Brendan Little Strategies LLC.
All films will screen in the Central Library’s Rabb Hall and will be free and open to the public. The films in this series explore the complexities of substance use in North America, at personal and community levels and how they deeply impact and shape our society. The Recovery Month Documentary Film Series explores urgently relevant topics, such as supervised injection sites, racial disparities in the war on drugs, and deceptive opioid marketing and overprescribing.
“Film is a powerful and accessible way to kick off National Recovery Month and educate Bostonians on the nuance and strength it takes to overcome substance use disorder,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m thankful to the RIZE Massachusetts Foundation, Brendan Little Strategies, BPHC, BPL and our City offices for their partnership in delivering this valuable series to our communities.”
Panelists for the post-screening discussions include filmmakers, local elected and appointed officials, frontline substance use disorder professionals, and people with lived experience with substance use and recovery. All panel discussions will be moderated by Brendan Little, a consultant, writer, and documentary filmmaker. Little formerly served as the founding Policy Director for the City of Boston’s Office of Recovery Services and is a person with lived experience with substance use disorder and homelessness.
“I am honored to help organize this extraordinary film series and moderate discussions with experts in substance use and recovery,” said Brendan Little. “Documentary film is an incredible tool in opening minds and shining light on misconceptions. I hope this film series will promote empathy and allow people to challenge their preconceived notions of substance use disorder.”
The films, dates, location, and panelists in the film series are:
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy (Directed by Stanley Nelson Jr.)
Wednesday, September 20th at 5pm
Rabb Hall, Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street
Panel Discussion Moderated by Brendan Little with:
• Tania Fernandes Anderson – Boston City Councilor, District 7
• Byron Rushing – Former MA State Representative
• Ruth Rollins – Founder, We Are Better Together Warren Daniel Hairston Project
• Berto Sanchez – Director of Policy and Equity, Bureau of Recovery Services, Boston Public Health Commission
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (Directed by Laura Poitras)
Saturday, September 30th at 1:00pm
Rabb Hall, Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street
Panel Discussion Moderated by Brendan Little with:
• Mario Chaparro – Program Director of Caspar Men’s Residence, Bay Cove
• Tania Del Rio – Senior Advisor, Coordinated Response Team, City of Boston
• Joanne Peterson – Founder and Executive Director, Learn to Cope, Inc.
• Mike S. Quinn – Partner, Eisenberg & Baum, LLP, New York; founding member of Nan Goldin’s P.A.I.N. (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now)
All films in this series are widely acclaimed and have won numerous awards at film festivals around the world. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2022.
RIZE Massachusetts Foundation, a public-private partnership solely dedicated to funding solutions to end the overdose crisis, is the lead sponsor for this film series.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the Recovery Month Documentary Film Series in collaboration with the City of Boston, Boston Public Library, and Brendan Little to recognize National Recovery Month and raise awareness about the overdose crisis,” said Julie Burns, President and CEO of RIZE Massachusetts Foundation. “We hope this film series will educate the public about substance use disorder and recovery while inspiring discussion and breaking down the stigma associated with addiction.”