Welcome to Skagit County

December 3, 2015

Spotlight Film Festival begins December 10

MOUNT VERNON – Coming next week to the Lincoln Theatre in downtown Mount Vernon is a free showing of “The Raising of America,” the first in a five-part documentary film series intended to raise awareness about issues affecting our children and families.

The Spotlight Film Festival was conceived to address the visions of a number of local groups and coalitions, with the Skagit County Public Health Department serving to connect all parties toward a common goal of educating the community.

“Each of the five documentaries in The Spotlight Film Festival is intended to raise awareness,” said Jennifer Sass-Walton. “Each session will also include information about local issues and services, and an opportunity for discussion.”

First among the films, to be presented from 7-9 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, is “The Raising of America: The Signature Hour.”

Producers of the film report: “The Raising of America interweaves discoveries from neuroscience with the stories of families and communities struggling to provide the nurturing environments all babies and young children need to thrive. It reveals how social conditions and stressors on parents can impact infants and young children, literally altering the wiring of their developing brains.”

This first festival film is being sponsored by the Northwest Educational Service District’s Northwest Early Learning Department. Other primary festival sponsors include Skagit County libraries; Children’s Council of Skagit County; Skagit County Child & Family Consortium; Skagit County Developmental Disabilities Board; Skagit County Nurse-Family Partnership; United General District 304; Skagit Valley Food Co-op; Washington Vocational Services; Chinook Enterprises; Soroptimists of Sedro-Woolley and City of Sedro-Woolley.

Subsequent films are “Dark Side of the Moon,” “Having It All,” “Paper Tigers” and “Horse Boy.” Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5.