On Earth Day, April 22, 2012, director Todd Darling received a text about a couple hundred urban farmers marching onto ten plus acres of fallow farmland and the site of a former agricultural research center known as the Gill Tract. The farmers hope to stop the development of a shopping mall and condo complex on the site and to de-rail plans that threatened to remove the class on agricultural land from farming. The activists brought with them 16,000 seedlings, roto tillers, shovels and tents. Within a few hours, they'd planted an acre of vegetables, put up a big banner that read: Occupy The Farm, and set up a tent village to defend the crops.
The battle over the last large piece of farmland in California's East Bay raged for months. This successful direct action altered the fate of this land owned by the University of California at Berkeley, sent urban agriculture into local headlines, and demonstrated how hopes for social justice can become a reality. This, the urban farmers announced, was “Occupy 2.0”.
Todd Darling and his crew picked up their cameras that very first day and continued to follow the story over the next five months. They realized that these urban farmers succeeded because they physically reminded people of their fundamental connection to the land and the earth.
Their cameras occupied the occupation. They witnessed the dramatic and rapid evolution of tactics and strategy of both the farmers and their adversaries – officials from the University of California. As a result, OCCUPY THE FARM captures a significant and on-going conflict: the showdown between over-development and agriculture, as well as the contest of wills between a grassroots, consensus based action, and the more rigid power structure of California's largest landowner. OCCUPY THE FARM reveals a new form of activism for the 21st Century. From Occupy The Farm Film
Coming to Hilo, Hawaii's historic Palace Theater for five screenings June 12th – 16th, OCCUPY THE FARM is a movie you don't want to miss. In addition to the 90 minute showing, each screening will feature local speakers to lead discussions on the topics addressed in the movie and how it is affecting life here on the Big Island. Additionally, we are creating a coalition of farmers, sustainability experts, permaculturists, community gardeners and social advocates that will serve as a bridge to helping all residents and visitors of the Big Island remember their own fundamental connection to the earth. Don't miss this event.
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