NET will present an exclusive online screening of “National Bird” at 7:30 p.m. April 3. The event is part of NET’s Indie Lens Pop-Up community film series.
Directed by Sonia Kennebeck and executive produced by Errol Morris and Wim Wenders, the film follows the journey of three whistleblowers determined to break the silence around the secret U.S. drone war. “National Bird” explores the complexities of drone warfare from a human perspective and gives insight into the American military drone program through the eyes of veterans and survivors.
The film will also be shown simultaneously at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Sheldon Museum of Art, the Midwest Theater in Scottsbluff and the West Point Community Theatre in West Point.
Following the film, a panel discussion will be live-streamed from Sheldon to connect all audiences.
Panelists include Kennebeck, an independent documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist with more than 15 years directing and producing; and Dan Gettinger, founder and co-director of the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College in New York. Also joining the discussion online will be Lisa, a former technical sergeant on a drone surveillance system featured in the film.
Audience members at all locations will be able to submit questions and comments to the panelists, contributing to the statewide dialogue.
At the center of “National Bird” are three U.S. military veterans — Heather, Daniel and Lisa. Plagued by guilt over participating in the killing of faceless people in foreign countries, each decides to speak out publicly, regardless of the consequences.
“National Bird” explores the difficult circumstances faced by military personnel involved with combat drones, the use of which has transformed modern warfare. Missions are highly classified, and there are no official counts of military or civilian casualties. The need for operators and intelligence analysts is increasing, yet their experiences and perspectives have been largely neglected because of their distance from the battlefield.
While it may be true that these veterans don’t sustain battlefield injuries, their psychological wounds can be substantial.
The Indie Lens Pop-Up community film series confronts real-life issues while bringing people together for community-driven conversation around films from the award-winning PBS series. It is free and open to the public.
The final film in the series will be “Real Boy” on May 21. For more information on the series, click here.
