Free Community Screening of “Repairing the World:Stories from the Tree of Life” To Be Held Before Premiere
PITTSBURGH – Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life documents a community’s powerful response to hate and antisemitism in the aftermath of the assault on three congregations at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa. The lives of eleven people were taken on October 27, 2018 in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. A free community screening of an abbreviated version of the documentary will take place on Tuesday, October 17 at 6:30pm in advance of the television premiere of the full documentary on WQED-TV on Thursday, October 26 at 9pm. Learn more at wqed.org/repairing-the-world.
The documentary is a production of Not in Our Town, the globally recognized team that has created films on successful community responses to hate for more than 25 years. WQED is serving as the presenting station to the American Public Television (APT) network, the distribution service to PBS stations across the United States.
The film follows survivors, families of the victims, diverse community members, students and civic leaders over three years as they examine their vulnerabilities and the impact of rising antisemitism, racism, hate speech, and gun violence. It shows a powerful display of unity in a moment of crisis, the resilience of a vibrant city, and a community that has faced violence and trauma working to heal and grapple with what it means to be stronger than hate.
“Pittsburgh has provided a model for what people can do to combat antisemitism and hate,” said Executive Producer Patrice O’Neill, CEO of Not in Our Town. “As we watched the events unfold in Pittsburgh, what we found is a community that cared deeply for one another. We saw a diverse cross-section of the community standing together in the face of horrific violence.”
The release of the film coincides with the five-year commemoration of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. O’Neill said the message of how Pittsburgh responded to the attack is more important than ever, as the United States has since an escalation of antisemitism and hate-motivated violence in the years since the attack.
“Racism and antisemitism are intertwined in the messaging that fueled recent mass hate crime killings,” said O’Neill. “We can do something to stop the spread of hate, and our local communities are places where we can effectively make a change that can be felt in people’s lives. We have to find new ways to mobilize the vast majority of people in our cities and towns who don’t want the spread of hate speech and violence to harm themselves, their children or their neighbors.”“WQED is honored to serve as the presenting station to public stations across America,” said David Solomon, Managing Director of Production and TV Station Manager. “This film shows how our community rallied in the wake of the worst kind of tragedy to send a powerful message of unity to the world.”
Free Community Screening
A free public screening of Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life will be held on Tuesday, October 17, at Carnegie Mellon University’s McConomy Auditorium. The event will begin at 6:30pm with an abbreviated 40-minute community screening of the 80-minute documentary immediately followed by a panel discussion.
When: Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Time: 6:30pm-8pm (Doors open at 6pm)
Where: McConomy Auditorium, Located on the First Floor of Jared L. Cohon University Center, 5032 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Other Info: Parking is available in the East Campus Garage on Carnegie Mellon University’s campus. Complimentary light refreshments will be served. Security will be present.
Panelists:
- Minette Seate, WQED Host
- Patrice O’Neill, Film Producer
- Andrea Wedner, Survivor
- Max Rosen, Community Gatherings Participant
- Meghan Schiller, KDKA-TV News Reporter
- Esther Bush, Former Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh President & CEO
Registration for the event is available here:
https://repairingtheworldscreening.eventbrite.com/
Film Screening Community Sponsors:
The Pittsburgh Promise
Film Screening Community Partners:
Jewish Community Relations Council
Film Pittsburgh
10.27 Healing Partnership
Center for Loving Kindness
Resources
WQED’s Education team and PBS has resources for talking to children about difficult topics as well as programs examining antisemitism in the United States and beyond.
Not In Our Town is continuing its ongoing work to spark civic and educational engagement to address hate and bias with this latest film in their 25 year history of films for public television. Through the Repairing the World campaign, the film can be made available free of charge to civic and faith leaders, community groups, schools, national organizations, government agencies and others for public screenings and discussions, town hall meetings, internal trainings, conference workshops, and other activities.
For a press kit, film trailer, high-resolution images, lesson guide for educators, and resources for screening Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life in your community, visit: www.repairintheworldfilm.org.
About WQED
WQED Multimedia starts conversations and creates experiences that educate, entertain and inspire our neighbors in Pittsburgh and across southwest Pennsylvania. Founded in 1954 as an experiment in educational community-supported television, WQED was a forerunner to PBS.
Our content creators produce impactful stories that delve into the rich mosaic of our region’s past, present, and future. We cover a wide range of topics, from arts and culture to pressing societal issues that impact our lives. We profile remarkable individuals and organizations who work to strengthen our communities. Our Learning Neighborhoods support children, in partnership with area schools and libraries, and extend to high school students exploring media careers through the WQED Film Academy. Known as “The Voice of the Arts,” WQED-FM provides a vital platform that amplifies our vibrant and diverse cultural assets, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
WQED Multimedia operates WQED-TV (PBS); WQED World; WQED Create; WQED Showcase; WQED PBS KIDS Channel; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel; plus various streams, apps, and interactive experiences.
About Not In Our Town (NIOT)
Developed in 1995 by The Working Group, an Oakland, Ca.-based nonprofit strategic media company, Not In Our Town (NIOT) is a movement to stop hate, address bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities for all. NIOT films, new media, and organizing tools help local leaders build vibrant, diverse cities and towns, where everyone can participate. Learn more at www.NIOT.org.