This three-part course, taught by filmmaker Allison Argo, delves deep into three of her films and the stories behind them. Allison’s moving films have won over 100 awards internationally, including six national Emmys, duPont Columbia, and dozens of awards from New York to Japan. Allison is known for her emotionally-charged and deeply personal films—in particular her intimate portraits of abused and endangered animals. The nearly two dozen films she’s produced, directed and written have all been broadcast by PBS and/or National Geographic and have reached audiences worldwide. Her current film, Forever Home, continues Allison’s mission to provide a voice for those who are not heard and to deepen respect for all beings. Allison will share three of her films, discuss the story behind each, and take your questions.

In this first class, Allison will be sharing Crash: A Tale of Two Species. Each year a small shorebird must make a 10,000-mile journey from the southern tip of South America to its nesting grounds in the Arctic—one of the longest migrations on earth. This pocket-sized traveler times its journey to precisely coincide with the annual spawning of one of earth’s most ancient creatures: the horseshoe crab. Red knots depend on horseshoe crab eggs to fuel their epic journey, but the collection of the crabs by the fishing and biomedical industries have pushed both creatures to the brink. As the fate of two extraordinary creatures teeters on the edge, humankind must grapple with the economics and politics of extinction.

Future classes will focus on the following films:
11/6: Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History
11/13: The Last Pig

Presented by the Friends of Snow Library. To register or for more information, visit https://friendsofsnowlibrary.org/lifetime-learning-program/.