The Department of Political Science at Brock University is partnering with The Film House to provide an entertaining and educational film series for Niagara.

Starting this September, a new film series exploring political issues making headlines today will start screening at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.

“Politics and Film,” being organized by the Department of Political Science at Brock, aims to examine the intersection between film and current events while providing entertainment and insight for the Niagara and Brock community. Each month, there will be one screening of an award-winning film followed by an audience question-and-answer period with experts in the field.

Political Science Professor Blayne Haggart became interested in spearheading the film series after attending a documentary film series in Washington, D.C. several years ago.

“There was a panel after the film, which was about the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, where the filmmakers and some academics discussed the film in the context of Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The whole was very educational and enjoyable. That stuck with me,” says Haggart.

The professor hopes to provide the opportunity for the community to spend an evening enjoying a film, discussing the context of the film with experts and learning more about what the Department of Political Science is up to.

“Everybody likes movies and everyone likes talking politics; so why not combine the two, bring in people who can speak knowledgeably to what we’ve just watched and have a discussion? That was kind of the idea. Hopefully people will enjoy it.”

Haggart notes that the enthusiastic embrace of this series from The Film House was heartening.

Jon Eben Field, Film Programmer with the Niagara Artists Centre, was a huge help with setting up the series and securing the films’ rights.

“When Blayne approached us with the idea for this series, we saw an opportunity to broaden the spectrum of perspectives in our programming by providing a focus on contemporary politics,” says Field. “Along with being a great educational experience for our general audience, the series will bring together diverse groups for a conversation about what matters in society.”

The selected films relate to the political issues making headlines and are scheduled in a timely manner to coincide with current events.

“The series isn’t just for Brock students, it’s for everyone. We hope to get a large turnout from the entire Niagara community,” says Haggart.

The first screening on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. features the political satire and black comedy, In The Loop (2009), which highlights the run-up to the 2003 Iraq War and the manufacturing of evidence by the British and U.S. governments.

“It was a natural fit, with the recent release of the Chilcot report, which ripped apart UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s rush to war,” says Haggart.

The October film, The War Room (1993), is a documentary about Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign, which is relevant to the upcoming U.S. presidential election taking place this November. It screens on Oct. 26 at 8 p.m.

The award-wining documentary, The Fog of War (2004), will be screening in November near Remembrance Day and the biographical comedy-drama about the Global financial crisis, The Big Short (2015), will show in January. In February, the series will showcase the science fiction thriller, District 9 (2009), followed by the final screening in March of Citizenfour (2014), the award-winning documentary about Edward Snowden and mass government surveillance.

For more information on the “Politics and Film” series, visit Brock University’s event page. For updates on screening details, visit The Film House website or follow @brockufoss on Twitter.