For Immediate Release
October 1, 2014

Contact:
Cheryl Brock, Slow Food Portland, cbrock2545@gmail.com, 503-318-3386
Julia DeGraw, Food & Water Watch, jdegraw@fwwatch.org, 503-347-3599
Leah Rodgers, Friends of Family Farmers, Leah@friendsoffamilyfarmers.org, 503-421-1435

Portland Screening of New Documentary Resistance Set for October 9
Film Supports Urgent Action to Keep Antibiotics Working for People

Portland, Oregon – When scientists in the mid-20th century developed the means to mass-produce antibiotics it was hailed as a medical miracle. Only now are we realizing the potentially catastrophic implications of this innovation. The question: have we reached a point at which we must save antibiotics in order to save ourselves? The new documentary Resistance, which has its Portland premiere on Thursday, October 9, seeks to answer this question using a blend of interviews, archival material, animation, and vérité footage shot across the US and other parts of the globe. The film also reveals the past, present and possible futures of one of the greatest health threats humanity has ever faced.

“Every day new reports suggest we are losing our battle against antibiotic- resistant superbugs,” says filmmaker Michael Graziano, of Uji Films. “Resistance pulls back the curtain on how we got here, and provides insights into what we can do so that these life-saving medicines we rely on will work when we really need them.”

The film contends that antibiotics are a unique public resource that must be managed sensibly and protected from the misuse that is transforming them from a good into a problem. Accordingly, a variety of perspectives are included with the goal of fostering cooperation among stakeholders to achieve proper management and protection of these precious drugs.

The Portland screening is hosted by Friends of Family Farmers and sponsored by Slow Food Portland, and Food & Water Watch.

“This screening comes as people across the country are waking up and realizing that 23,000 people die each year in the United States from antibiotic-resistant infections.” says Julia DeGraw, Oregon organizer with Food & Water Watch. Working in partnership with Physicians for Social Responsibility, Food & Water Watch has helped more than 25 communities across the United States pass resolutions asking Congress to take federal to protect antibiotics. “Eighty percent of antibiotics sold in the United States are given to livestock—even when animals are not sick. We hope Portland will join cities across the US in calling on Congress to stop antibiotics abuse in factory farming so these important medicines may continue to save people’s lives,” says DeGraw.

There will be a post-film discussion with Michael Graziano, the film’s director, Rachel Fischer, MD, MPH, and Kathy Hessler, clinical professor of law at Lewis & Clark Law School.

What: Film Screening Resistance, panel discussion, and reception

When: Thursday, October 9, 6:30 pm

Where: The Academy Theater, 7818 SE Stark St. Portland OR

Cost: Free

RSVP: slowfoodportland.com/event/resistance-film-screening/

###