Miners Appreciation Film Fest Is Dec. 4

The West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State University and the Phi Alpha Theta Student History Honorary are sponsoring a Miners Appreciation Film Fest at Fairmont State on Monday, Dec, 4. The event is in conjunction with Marion County Miners Day events from Nov. 24 to Dec. 9. Films to be featured are "Monongah 1907," narrated by J. Davitt McAteer; "Coal Camp Blues Coalfield Struggles," featuring Carl Rutherford and directed by Jim McGee; "Suicide Missions: Miners," a 2006 History Channel Production; and "Matewan," directed by John Sayles.

"Each of these films will show different historical dimensions that have helped to shape the modern West Virginia coal mining industry," said Michael Hayes, senior history and folklore student at Fairmont State.

Films such as "Monongah 1907" and "Suicide Missions: Miners" focus on traumatic events in the history of coal mining that have helped shape modern mining regulations. "Coal Camp Blues Coalfield Struggles" focuses on one Southern West Virginia action group's efforts to stop the damage being caused by mountaintop removal mining. The films "Monongah 1907," "Coal Camp Blues Coalfield Struggles" and "Suicide Missions: Miners" will be shown non-stop in the Nickel on the second floor of the Falcon Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 4. Admission is free and open to the public.

The film fest will conclude with an evening showing of John Sayles' critically acclaimed 1987 film "Matewan." The film is a look at the May 1920 events in the small Southern West Virginia coal town of Matewan that would help bring the struggle for unionization of Southern West Virginia coal miners onto the national stage. The film features such noted actors as Chris Cooper ("A Time to Kill"), Mary McDonnell ("Independence Day"), David Strathairn ("The Firm") and James Earl Jones ("Clear and Present Danger"). The film will be shown from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 in Multi-media Room A of the Ruth Ann Musick Library. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information on these events, contact:
Michael Hayes
Phone: (304) 612-2725
E-Mail: mhayes3@fairmontstate.edu
OR
West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State
Phone: (304) 367-4403
E-mail: wvfolklife@fairmontstate.edu

For more information on all the Marion County Miners Day events, visit www.minersday.org.