Winston-curated Immigration Film Fundraiser Draws A Big Crowd

November 4, 2025 CVRAN 0 Comments

On October 6, Rick Winston presented an event titled, “The Other Side of Hope: Films about Immigration” to a crowd at The Savoy Theater in Montpelier. Rick is well known in Central Vermont for many things, including his lectures on film and his writings on Vermont history.

Rick approached CVRAN with the idea for this event as a fundraiser to benefit both CVRAN and The Savoy. He described struggling with the question – what can I do to help? – and realizing that he could tap into what he already knows to raise awareness and money to help immigrants in Vermont. As a bonus, his approach is also entertaining and enriching.

Discussion host standing in front of movie screen. Image: K. McCracken.
Rick Winston led the discussion of immigration film clips. Image: K. McCracken.

Rick presented clips from fourteen films, in four loose thematic groupings: Departure, Journey, Arrival, and Assimilation. He featured a broad array of films. There were hard-to-find international films, small independent gems that played at The Savoy or The Green Mountain Film Festival in years past, and also well known hits. The full list of films is below.

Dick Saudek described the event, “Rick combines his thoughtful understanding of immigrants’ struggles with his encyclopedic knowledge of the characters behind the films and his flair for a good story. There’s nobody better at putting together the insights, drama, humor and backgrounds of the movies he presents. It’s a fascinating hour!”

We are so grateful to Rick for conceiving of, proposing, and presenting this wonderful event!
Thank you to The Savoy for hosting!
Movie list next to a popcorn container serving as a donation receptacle. Image: K. McCracken.
The movie clip list and donation receptacle at the Savoy Theater Immigration Film event. Image: K. McCracken.

And if you missed it, you have another chance to catch it!  

Rick will be hosting another viewing on November 12 at the Old Labor Hall in Barre. The program runs from 7 – 8:30pm.

 

We highly recommend checking out Rick’s picks:

  • Movie goers at the Savoy Theater in Montpelier VT. Image: K. McCracken.
    A full house at the recent Savoy Theater immigration film discussion! Image: K. McCracken.

    The Emigrants (Jan Troell)

  • Golden Door (Emanuele Crialese)
  • The Immigrant (Chaplin)
  • In This World (Winterbottom)
  • Le Havre (Kaurismaki)
  • Hester Street (Joan Micklin Silver)
  • Amreeka (Cherien Dabis)
  • La Promesse (Dardenne Brothers)
  • El Norte (Gregory Nava)
  • Man Push Cart (Ramin Bahrani)
  • La Ciudad (David Riker)
  • Mississippi Masala (Mira Nair)
  • The Visitor (Tom McCarthy)
  • Brooklyn (John Crowley)

Also recommended:

  • Io Capitano (Italy)
  • Green Border (Poland)
  • Avalon (US)
  • A Better Life (US)
  • Sugar (US)
  • Bread and Roses (UK)
  • Monsieur Lazhar (Canada)
  • Ae Fond Kiss (UK)

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