Since its founding in 2015, the Niehoff Center has consistently organized annual film series that address pressing societal questions. “The goal is to use films to foster conversations about issues and highlight and frame faculty research and teaching for a wider audience,” said Michael Gott, Neihoff Center Director of Programming & College of Arts and Sciences Professor. Past topics have ranged from artificial intelligence to migration, urban spaces, and women in film.

 This year’s focus on sustainability reflects the urgency of global environmental concerns. “The nature and culture connection came together as a throughline in a broader selection of films provided by European Union sponsorship,” Gott explained. The series aims to engage audiences with themes that resonate universally, especially in the context of contemporary challenges.

Following each screening, discussions with filmmakers and UC faculty aim to spark meaningful conversations. The series underscores the transformative power of film as a medium for challenging perceptions and inspiring action.

“Film can make us rethink our ideas about the world and see things from different perspectives,” Gott said. By highlighting the interplay between nature and culture, the series encourages viewers to consider the broader implications of environmental storytelling.

A highlight of the series is the screening of Flowers of Ukraine, directed by Adelina Borets, who will visit UC to discuss her work on Jan 29. The film centers on an individual’s relationship with nature amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine. “When I learned that Borets could visit, it seemed like the ideal topic to focus on,” Gott said, emphasizing the opportunity to tie global conflict and environmental themes together. 

Flowers of Ukraine, Jan.. 29, 7 p.m.

The post-film discussion will include a discussion with the director, Gott, and Teri Jacobs, assistant professor of environmental studies.

RSVP for this event here.