Helen DeMichiel’s BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE SIDEWALK (Documentary, 76 min) follows two fiercely dedicated young Latino political organizers leading a team of new recruits to mobilize their community to support a sugary drink tax. When the state government passes a stealth law to ban all local soda taxes until 2030, these young activists fearlessly battle the corporate lobbying efforts to block them.
In their goal to ignite a grassroots movement for health justice, the young organizers, Christian and Aurora, are undaunted. Tested during their fight for local democracy and the right to vote on important issues, the film’s heroes overcome doubt, fear, and powerful resistance as they dare to fight back against the goliath American beverage industry. Thank you to East Bay Regional Park District for sponsoring this screening.
A co-presentation of Albany FilmFest and the Berkeley Film Foundation
Albany-based director, writer and producer HELEN DEMICHIEL’s creative work moves across independent film and digital platforms. Her films are included in museum collections across the country. She is deeply involved in co-creative and participatory media practices, including combinatory storytelling which she calls open space new media. Her episodic documentary, LUNCH LOVE COMMUNITY circulated as an open space project across live and online communities; and, along with BERKELEY VS BIG SODA, continues to make a real impact for global food justice.