Cinema Fairfield highlights Suicide Prevention Month in September selections

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield Arts & Convention Center’s Cinema Fairfield is hosting films this month that range from entertaining to somber and thought-provoking.

Cinema Fairfield’s Solomon Davis, the Assistant Director at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, said he chose films to coincide with National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. One of those involves a collaboration with Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Fairfield, and that is for the five screenings of the CatVideoFest Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 6-9. The film will be shown every day at 7 p.m. on those days, plus a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee.

The film is a “compilation of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses,” according to its promo. Davis said a portion of the proceeds from the ticket sales will go toward Noah’s Ark.

“Laughter and connection are powerful tools in combating depression, as are cats and pets, making this opportunity to gather and giggle a great way to begin the month,” Davis said.

Davis added that one of the stipulations to licensing the film was that FACC had to partner with a local animal shelter or foundation, and Noah’s Ark was more than happy to collaborate on the project.

“We tried to get the CatVideoFest last year, but we didn’t have room on our schedule,” Davis said. “As soon as I could find a window of opportunity, we booked it for this weekend.”

The documentary film “Jerry’s Last Mission” will be shown Sept. 14-15, about former Fairfield resident and World War II fighter pilot Jerry Yellin and his quest to prevent veteran suicides later in his life.

On Sept. 26, FACC will host a screening of the silent film “The City Without Jews” with live original music composed and performed by klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals and silent film pianist Donald Sosin. This Austrian film was made in 1924 and is set in a fictional Vienna-like city that has just expelled all its Jews.

“When things start to decline, the National Assembly must decide whether to invite the Jews back. The film’s stinging critique of Nazism is part of the reason it was no longer screened in public after 1933,” according to the film’s promo.

Davis said he was honored to be able to get the original musicians and composers to perform in Fairfield, whose music is on the Blu Ray version of the film. He said it is coming to Fairfield one day after Yom Kippur. Svigals and Sosin are touring the country, and luckily they were able to fit Fairfield into their schedule.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com