Richard Alton could be described as the facilitator of facilitators. Making sure the One Earth Film Fest has trained leaders to bring about rich discussions has been his pet project since the inception of the One Earth Film Festival.
By Shelby Best
One Earth Film Festival organizers expect audiences to leave screenings being more enlightened and aware of environmental issues. Organizers also want audiences to be ready to take action for the planet when they leave a screening.
To get audiences to that point, they need to digest a film’s information, then connect it to everyday life. That’s where trained facilitators come in. Facilitators are key pieces of the festival, helping attendees develop a more meaningful understanding of the many important topics covered during a screening.
“I love the way that the festival engages the entire Chicagoland region and people from all the communities that are a part of it.””
Willard Williamson and Al Walker. Photo by Andrew Clayton.
Monica Halloran and David Holmquist. Photo by Andrew Clayton.
Again this year, the festival held a daylong facilitator training at the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) in Chicago. The training followed ICA’s ToP (Technology of Participation) facilitation model. Participants were instructed on more general facilitation, but the session also allowed everyone to practice facilitated discussions around the Film Festival and upcoming screenings.
In-depth knowledge of a subject is not required to lead a discussion around a topic. A facilitator is responsible for gently moving the group from surface level observations to attaching meaning and significance to the topic and their lives, followed by a tangible action plan of next steps.
“Facilitators must be mindful of not getting in the way of group conversation — if done correctly, they almost fade into the background and appear only when necessary to help the group move forward. We believe facilitators should be much more of a guide on the side than a sage on the stage. ”
“The myth that there aren’t enough of us who care is shattered when I think about how many films are shown and how many attend. We all care and we are all putting our minds, hearts and hands to these issues. OEFF inspires us to look at each other and hold one another in these issues as a collective.””
