Reel Work May Day Labor Film Festival
This year marks the twenty-second year of the Reel Work May Day Labor Film Festival. An all-volunteer group, many from the labor movement and Santa Cruz DSA, has been meeting and viewing films since December and has come up with a stimulating and provocative array of films that honor working people and their ability to organize to make life better for more people. Events this year will be held in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, San Juan Bautista, Cal State University Monterey Bay, and on Zoom.
Reel Work started in 2002 with Myrna Cherin and Ginny Hirsch, long-time union activists and members of the Retirees Chapter of SEIU Local 415 in Santa Cruz who wanted to make a little money for their retirees’ group. They had the idea of showing some movies honoring union organizing. The president of the SEIU Local at that time, Jeffrey Smedberg, who had also been looking for a way for union members to learn their own history, and a small group of local union and community members, coalesced around the idea. Documentary filmmaker John de Graaf, whose work has been presented in more than one festival season, suggested the Reel Work name. It was obvious to everyone involved in the project that the best date for such a festival would be May Day, celebrated worldwide as International Workers Day.
This year’s festival includes films from all over the world and focuses on many occupations from domestic workers, farmworkers, steelworkers, people in education, woman truck drivers, and more. It also includes music and a May Day Rally and March. Also featured is an excellent new documentary that tells the story of May Day, called We Mean to Make Things Over, written and directed by long time labor historian and EBDSA member Fred Glass. Since the festival features live and virtual events, some films can be viewed online. Check out the Reel Work website and join us this year.