All this week, Sitka Film Society will be screening short films nominated for an Academy Award.
Shannon Haugland and Max Kritzer were joined by Elaine McMillion-Sheldon, the director of the film Heroin(e). This 40-minute Netflix documentary follows three women — a fire chief, a judge and a street missionary — as they battle West Virginia’s devastating opioid epidemic. The film is set in Huntington, West Virginia, nicknamed the “overdose capital of America” with five to seven overdoses a day in Cabell County.
“There is no federal program that is going to be a silver bullet. I think it’s up to all us – the community members – to help turn the tide on the stigma of addiction. I think we can do that by being kind to one another,” said McMillion-Sheldon.
The Oscar series will begin on Wednesday, February 21st at 5 p.m. at the Sitka Coliseum with screenings of the documentary shorts Traffic Stop, Edith + Eddie, and Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405. On Thursday, February 22nd at 5 p.m., the Film Society will screen Heroin(e) and Knife Skills. Animated shorts will screen on Saturday, February 23rd at 12 p.m. and live-action shorts will screen on Sunday, February 24th at 12 p.m.
The 90th Academy Awards is March 4th.
