Series showcases works by Northwest filmmakers

As inviting as a stroll through the Arboretum, KCTS' "About Us" is a series that's long overdue. Showcasing locally themed documentaries by filmmakers from Washington and British Columbia, this well-chosen series provides welcome exposure for films that reflect the vibrant diversity of the Pacific Northwest. Our past, present and possible futures are on vivid display, from the shallows of Puget Sound (where geoduck harvesting is a thriving enterprise) to the skyscrapers of downtown Seattle, where urban professionals enjoy fresh, organically grown fruit delivered by progressive, independent farmers.

While the series is remarkably varied, several films share an ecological emphasis, speaking to our intimate relationship to Northwest soil, often with a Native-American connection to art, culture and spirituality. Several short subjects focus on local artists, while others address vital chapters of local history. The wealth of subject matter clearly suggests that this series can and should encourage similar programming in the future.

Each program includes introductions by the filmmakers. Here's a week-by-week overview:

Thursday

"About Us" premieres with "Broken Limbs: Apples, Agriculture and the New American Farmer," a superb film by Guy Evans, son of a Wenatchee apple farmer, exploring the drastic decline of traditional farming, the dominance of corporate growers and the promising practice of sustainable agriculture by innovative, independent farmers. Both heartbreaking and hopeful, it's must-see viewing for residents of "the apple capital of the world." (www.brokenlimbs.org)

Sept. 30

Ashland filmmaker Kim Shelton lends vital compassion to "A Great Wonder," an 18-month chronicle of teenage refugees from Sudan's devastating civil war. Their awkward adjustment with local foster families culminates in joyous cultural exchange tempered by the fear of uncertain futures. ("The Lost Boys of Sudan," a 90-minute "P.O.V." documentary covering similar territory, airs at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28.)

Oct. 7

"The Sephardic Jews and the Pike Place Market" is a lively history of Spanish-descended Jews, whose family legacies live on among the fruit vendors and fish-mongers of Seattle's favorite landmark. Lucy Ostrander's "Port Blakely: Memories of a Mill Town" and "The Red Pines: Japanese-Americans on Bainbridge Island" pay historical tribute to the cultural uniqueness of Bainbridge Island, preserving the community's Asian identity and chronicling the dynamic history of the world's largest sawmill.

Oct. 14

Katie Jennings' "Teachings of the Tree People" explores the inspiring work of Gerald Bruce Miller, an award-winning weaver of cedar bark who preserves the art, language, oral tradition and spirituality of the Twana people of Hood Canal. "Preston Singletary: Glass Artist," looks at a man who honors his Tlingit heritage through glass sculptures that reflect coastal tribal traditions. Steve Utaski's "Mary Klein: Street Artist" is an upbeat appreciation of Klein's sensuous sand sculptures on Alki Beach, showcasing Utaski's skill as a videographer while acknowledging Klein's delicate circumstances as a struggling single mother.

Oct. 21

Intimate and emotionally intense, Anne Hedreen's "Quick Brown Fox" is a soul-searching quest to understand Alzheimer's disease as it takes its toll on Hedreen's once-vibrant 60-year-old mother. Causes and potential cures are examined, making this a helpful primer for families affected by Alzheimer's.

Oct. 28

"The Legend of Cataline": The series' only Canadian entry is Sylvie Peltier's tribute to British Columbian legend Jean Caux (aka "Cataline"), a French mule-packer who plied his trade in the Canadian wilderness. Judicious re-enactments convey an infectious fondness for B.C.'s most colorful historic figure.

Nov. 4

The series' most playful entry is Justin Bookey's "3 Feet Under: Digging Deep for the Geoduck Clam," a "duckumentary" about the Northwest's favorite super-sized bivalve. Rated PC (for "Phallic Clams"), it's funny, informative and quintessentially local in flavor. ( www.duckumentary.com.)

Nov. 11

To be announced.

Nov. 18

"The Seattle Tacoma Interurban Railway" is Stephen Sadis' fascinating look back at the Kent-based electrical railway that connected Tacoma and Seattle from 1902 to 1928, prompting the rapid growth of Kent, Renton, Everett and other local communities. Dozens of archival photos bring this forgotten project to life.

In "Fremont: Monsurang," prolific local filmmaker Wes Kim offers an impressive six-minute survey of neighborhood flavor and public response to Fremont's most conspicuous example of modern-art architecture.

Nov. 25

"New Voices 2004" is a delightful compilation of shorts created by emerging filmmakers at 911 Media Arts Center. With such titles as "Game Show Duo" (about a husband-and-wife team of veteran game-show players); "A Jew's Guide to Christmas" (a portrait of "holiday envy"); "Signers" (about street-curb panhandlers); and "Unlisted" (a daughter's coming to terms with her mentally ill father), this program offers ample proof that Seattle's filmmaking scene is bursting with talent.

Dec. 2

"30 Frames a Second: The WTO in Seattle" is Rustin Thompson's vivid, first-person account of the chaos that erupted between protesters and Seattle Police during the infamous World Trade Organization convention in downtown Seattle in December 1999.

Thompson's anti-WTO passions prevent him from providing a fully informative film, but his on-the-spot video will surely stand as the definitive record of that week's turbulent events.

Jeff Shannon: j.sh@verizon.net