THE VOLCANO: RESCUE FROM WHAKAARI Documentary

Screening to be followed by a conversation with director Rory Kennedy, producer and co-writer Mark Bailey and producer Sara Bernstein.

In 2019, a volcano erupted on Whakaari in New Zealand without warning, raining down rocks and debris, and enveloping the island in a quiet, dark cloud of burning-hot steam. As the debris settled and onlookers gasped from the opposite shore, a rescue mission stirred into action; 47 tourists were trapped on the island, and another boat of tourists was just returning, having narrowly escaped. In this unbelievable new documentary from Academy Award® nominee Rory Kennedy (LAST DAYS IN VIETNAM, AFI FEST 2014), rescuers and survivors each recount their own version of the worst day of their lives, sharing what it means to cling to hope and life, and to make impossible choices. While their trauma remains, its mark left through physical and emotional scars, these experiences shape a new understanding of themselves and their relationships. At once honest and evocative, Kennedy crafts an inspiring tale of human perseverance, even when all seems lost. –David Blaylock