Best of the Fest films for Feb. 19–25

The Friday Harbor Film Festival’s Best of the Fest series presents one feature-length documentary alongside shorter documentary films each week in February. The films are streamed on demand. For the week of Feb. 19 to 25, FHFF is showing Zero Gravity and a collection of four short student films.

FHFF shared with the Update a preview of each film.

Zero Gravity

Zero Gravity follows a diverse group of middle school students who compete in a nationwide Zero Robotics competition to develop code for satellites aboard the International Space Station. This powerful, inspirational story about education, science, and the next generation follows first-time teacher Tanner Marcoida as he prepares his middle-school students for future jobs. Their mission is to program free-flying satellites aboard the International Space Station called SPHERES. As their team grows from amateur coders to confident engineers, they reflect on their hopes, dreams, cultures, and creeds, and forge their paths to compete in the ISS Finals Tournament — the culmination of a summer-long adventure that sees their incredible accomplishments performed by astronauts in orbit.

Nisqually Moving Forward

On May 5, 2014, Nisqually Tribal leader Billy Frank Jr., one of the greatest leaders in Pacific Northwest history, passed away after a lifetime of fighting for Tribal fishing and land rights. Today his son Willie Frank III, recently elected as Nisqually Tribal Chairman and one of the youngest leaders in his Tribe’s history, continues these efforts.

The Living Sea

12-year-old scuba diver Ema sets on a quest to find out why corals around the globe are dying, but somehow in Hong Kong they are more resilient. She believes if people could see the beauty of the ocean and of the corals, they would change their minds about sea protection. Student Film Award for Ages 13-17 winner.

Out of Mind

A hunter struggles to cope with the death of a loved one. Student Film Award for Ages 18-26 winner.

Sea Beyond the Glitz

On the East End of Long Island, a tenacious group of fishermen struggle to preserve a centuries-old way of life.

Tickets for all of these films can be purchased through the FHFF website.

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