‘Occupy the Farm’ Coming to Palace Theater

The Palace Theater in Hilo will be showing “Occupy the Farm” on June 12, 14, 15, and 16 at 7 p.m., as well as Sunday, June 14 at 2:30 p.m.

The documentary film follows 200 determined community members who develop a strategy to preserve a plot of land from urban development in the interest of maintaining food production and access to public lands.

Director Todd Darling said as soon as he arrived at the scene of the disputed territory, he knew that it was “an important story and that the farmer’s strategy was new, unique and hopeful.”

“I am fortunate that these historic events played out in front of our cameras over the weeks and months that we followed them. It was like catching lightning in a bottle,” says Darling on the film’s website.

The Los Angeles Times says the film is “empowering food for thought” and Edible East Bay calls it “powerful and engaging.”

“It illustrates the staggering extent to which corporate interests dictate policy and shape scientific research,” said Ernest Handy of the Village Voice.

Each showing of the film will be followed by local speakers talking about Hawai‘i’s food and agriculture.

Tickets for the film are $8 general, $7 for students and seniors, and can be purchased at the Palace Theater box office.