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Film Festival Centers Around Healthy, Farm-Fresh Foods

DETROIT (WWJ) - Whole Foods Market, in partnership with Eastern Market Corporation, proudly presents its first national traveling "Do Something Reel" Film Festival on Thursday, June 9.

This blockbuster double feature event will take place at the Eastern Market Detroit Shed 3, 2934 Russell Street.  A $5.00 donation at the door is suggested to benefit The Boggs Educational Center School Farm.

The evening will feature two incredible, thought-provoking films focused on food, farming, environmental issues and everyday people with the greater vision of making the world a better place while making a difference.

The first screening will take place at 6 pm featuring, "Lunch Line," a film based on the story of six kids from one of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago as they set out to fix school lunch. Their unlikely journey parallels the dramatic transformation of school lunch from a patchwork of local anti-hunger efforts to a robust national feeding program.

At 8 pm, the film "Urban Roots" will begin. This film tells the powerful story of a group of dedicated Detroiters working tirelessly to fulfill their vision for locally grown, sustainably farmed food in a city cut off from real food and limited to fast food stocked with processed food from thousands of miles away.

"The way we cook our food is just as important as the food we are cooking," Mark MacInnis, native Detroiter and director of Urban Roots, said in a release. "Finding and taking part in the Slow Food Detroit event fills my stomach and soul."

Immediately following both films, a question and answer panel discussion with MacInnis and Detroit Urban Farmers will take place. Local restaurants such as Supino Pizza, Avalon Bakery and Chef Alison of the Cappuchin Soup Kitchen will provide delicious food.

"Urban Roots really hit home with me," Stacy Ordakowski, Chapter Leader for Slow Food Detroit, said in a statement. "I grew up in Detroit and although in a declining area, we still had each other—we had our community. Though many of us have moved away, we still see and support each other and are a big part of each other's lives."

"I saw that spirit and connection with all of those beautiful people doing what they have to do to survive. This movement has given them back their community. What started out as a need to survive has turned into a true grassroots movement. I just loved it," Ordakowski continued.

The "Do Something Reel" Film Festival was created to raise awareness for environmental and food issues, as well as support filmmakers who are creating films that inspire people to question the impact our choices have on our health, body and environment.

The grocer hopes to initiate change by sparking dialogue around the featured films, which demonstrate that small changes can make a big difference. Successfully airing throughout the U.S., these films are making an impact and initiating much-needed change.

For more information, visit www.dosomethingreel.com.

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