The Utah Film Center will offer a free movie screening of “The Yes Men Are Revolting” in Moab next week, despite a devastating fire last month that destroyed its office in Salt Lake City.
While there’s no charge to attend the showing at Star Hall on Thursday, April 21, at 7 p.m., the center will be accepting donations to start rebuilding, and to find a new office space.
The film center said it needs $150,000 to get back on track, and to find a new home. To that end, the center has launched a GoFundMe account at www.gofundme.com/utahfilmcenter.
The March 29 fire originated in the basement of the film center’s building, and although no one was hurt, most of the center’s equipment, including its computers, appliances, office supplies, banners, films and paper files, was damaged beyond repair.
The center has been able to continue its mission by working remotely, and by meeting at public places such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Salt Lake City Public Library, Utah Film Center Executive Director Elisabeth Nebeker said.
For its latest screening in Moab, the center is showing a documentary that is “an example of regular people making change,” Nebeker said.
“The Yes Men Are Revolting” is about two activists who dress up in thrift store suits, then talk themselves into government functions and business events, where they impersonate “corporate evildoers.” Over the years, they have staged elaborate and outrageous hoaxes involving Dow Chemical, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other entities they view as planet-plundering bad guys.
The Yes Men are Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno, multi-award winning filmmakers who have managed to intervene at events, on the Internet, television and on the street.
They are founders of the nonprofit Yes Lab and the Action Switchboard, an online platform for generating real-life direct actions in the service of social movements.
Their new movie – an official selection at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival and the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival – tackles climate change, and follows their first two award-winning movies, “The Yes Men” and “The Yes Men Fix the World.”
Director Laura Nix is an independent filmmaker whose credits include “The Light in Her Eyes,” “The Politics of Fur” and the documentary “Whether You Like It or Not: The Story of Hedwig.”
Utah Film Center Artistic Director Patrick Hubley noted that the Yes Men have been two of the most notorious activists for the past 20 years.
“Their outrageous and often hilarious hoaxes have been the subject of two previous films that introduced us to their work,” Hubley said. “This third film is the most personal, and is a fascinating and moving portrait of the two activists as they struggle to balance their everyday lives with their activism. Whether you are familiar with the Yes Men or not, this engaging film reveals the real people behind the ruses and what motivates them.”
The center, which partners with the Grand County Public Library on the Star Hall screenings, shows 250 free films each year to Utah residents. It also provides media arts education programs, and support for artists.
“All of our films are free and open,” Nebeker said. “Our mission is to initiate conversation and bring (communities) together through curated film exhibitions.”
After devastating fire, group brings “The Yes Men Are Revolting” to Moab on April 21
When: Thursday, April 21, at 7 p.m.
Where: Star Hall, 159 E. Center St.
Cost: Free; Donations appreciated
Information: 435-259-1340; utahfilmcenter.org
Star Hall is located at 159 E. Center St. For more information, go to: utahfilmcenter.org.
