Movies That Matter: ZERO WEEKS
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Join us at the Underground Cinema by WVIFF for January's Movie That Matter Mondays film:
ZERO WEEKS
About the film:
Most Americans agree that family comes first. No matter where you work or what zip code you live in, you should be able to welcome a new child, to care for your mother when she has her knee replaced or to heal from cancer without facing financial disaster.
And yet in 2016, only 14 percent of private sector workers in the U.S. reported having paid family leave through an employer; less than 40 percent have personal medical leave through an employer-provided temporary disability program. The United States and Papua New Guinea are the only countries in the world without a paid leave law. Because 44 percent of American households don’t have enough savings to cover their basic expenses for three months, families are often forced to choose between taking time off to care for a partner or parent with an unexpected medical emergency or continuing to work so that they can keep their job and health insurance. The crisis is just as bleak for new mothers. Nearly 1 in 4 mothers return to work within two weeks of having a baby. Without the protections of paid leave, new mothers are 40% more likely to need food stamps or public assistance.
Weaving powerful stories together with insightful interviews from leading policy makers, economists, researchers and activists, ZERO WEEKS lays out a compelling argument for guaranteed paid leave for every American worker. The film looks at paid leave from an emotional, medical, financial and global perspective.
ZERO WEEKS is the fourth documentary by award-winning director, Ky Dickens. As a female director, with a track record for creating poignant work known for shifting policy and public opinion, Dickens is an ideal filmmaker to tackle this project. Dickens was inspired to make a film about paid leave, after facing financial depletion, emotional turmoil and guilt of having “not enough time,” due to a lack of paid leave, after the birth of her first child.
Once a fringe issue, paid leave is now central in the national debate. The issue is not just political, it’s smart economics. The three states that have implemented their own policies — California, New Jersey and Rhode Island— have experienced greater economic stability. Companies like Google, which provide over 16 weeks of paid leave, have seen their rates of attrition fall by 50%. Paid leave is not just good for families, relationships, and the health of seniors, parents and children, but it’s beneficial for business and our nation’s ability to compete on a global scale.
About the series:
WVIFF Underground Cinema Presents: Movies That Matter Mondays - Each month, we will work with a community organization to show an issue-oriented and compelling film relating to their mission. At one screening of the film, the community organization will participate in a discussion with the audience. This will be on January 22nd The film will show for the rest of the month on Mondays. Except no screening on December 25th as the Underground Cinema will be closed for the Holidays.
About the community partners:
West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy
The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy is a policy research organization that is nonpartisan, nonprofit, and statewide.
The Center’s research and analysis is designed to support informed public dialog and policy in West Virginia. The Center consults and collaborates with other organizations to ensure that its analyses are relevant and timely and strives to be a knowledgeable and respected source of credible information on public budget and fiscal issues for policymakers, advocates, media, and the public.
The Center participates in a national network of similar organizations that already exist in over half the states as part of the State Priorities Partnership, sponsored by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and the Economic Analysis and Research Network, an initiative of the Economic Policy Institute.
What the Critics are saying:
Rarely do films come across our screens that tie in so nicely with the conversations happening in our communities. ZERO WEEKS was a reminder of just how powerful the documentary form can be.”
Ben Fowlie, Executive Director of Camden International Film Festival
“The momentum behind the paid leave movement is undeniable. Activists all across the country have been fighting for policies at the state and national level; in just over a year, we’ve doubled the number of states (from 3 to 6) which passed paid leave. This film will be a powerful tool to create awareness and engagement.”
Ellen Bravo, Co-Director of Family Values @ Work
“ZERO WEEKS is a stark and poignant look at the consequences of inaction on paid leave in the U.S. More than anything else, though, ZERO WEEKS wants you to feel outraged. And in the end, it begs the question: Why do lawmakers fight against policies that would benefit workers and their families, and boost the country’s economy?”
Annamarya Scaccia, Romper
Charleston, WV 25301