Join Us at the DC Independent Film Festival For the Screening of Piti Theatre’s Film “Canary in a Gold Mine”
Friday March 3, 2023
Screening – 6:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion – 7:30 p.m.
Landmark’s E Street Cinema, 555 11th St NW, Washington, DC
After a viral premiere at the Ko Festival of Performance, Piti Theatre’s “Canary in a Gold Mine” comes to the DC Independent Film Festival on March 3rd at Landmark E Street Cinema. The film is a 21st century love letter as well as a wakeup call to the risks of 24/7 wireless exposure. A unique blend of theater and documentary, “Canary” uses a comedic lens to explore fatherhood, marriage and environmental health.
The one-hour screening will be followed by an open panel discussion with:
Mikhail Kogan, MD, is a geriatrician with The George Washington Medical Faculty Associates and an associate professor of Medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Dr. Kogan is Medical Director of GW Center for Integrative Medicine and in addition to multiple research and teaching responsibilities, Dr. Kogan serves as an associate director of the Geriatrics Fellowship Program. Dr. Kogan also serves as associate director of the newly formed GW Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Fellowship.
Barbara Koeppel is a Washington DC-based investigative reporter who writes about socioeconomic, political, labor, foreign policy, criminal justice and military issues. She was the executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. Read her two articles on the issue published in Washington Spectator “Federal Court Instructs FCC to Review Electromagnetic Radiation Standards” and Wireless Hazards.
Theodora Scarato MSW is Executive Director of Environmental Health Trust (EHT), a scientific think tank that publishes research and educates policymakers on environmental health issues. EHT scientists are among the leading independent voices calling for reducing wireless exposure worldwide. EHT sued the FCC for ignoring science related to wireless radiation, and in 2021 the U.S. Court of Appeals, DC Circuit ruled in its favor.
Joseph Sandri is the President of the National Spectrum Association. Joe is CEO of Thought Delivery Systems, Inc., which is active in 5G infrastructure operations, applications, and research & development through its Cardinal Communications division. Mr. Sandri has been an executive officer with multiple publicly traded corporations.
Jonathan Mirin is the co-founding Artistic Director of Piti Theatre Company, an award-winning touring troupe based in Western Massachusetts and Switzerland. His critically acclaimed plays have been produced across North America and Europe. He also co-founded Hilltown Health, a grassroots organization dedicated to leveraging safe technology for healthy, sustainable communities. “Canary in a Gold Mine” is his first documentary.
“Entertaining, wonderfully inventive … a fun and compelling dive into the opposing forces of corporate profit vs. public safety.”
— KoFest Artistic Director and producer Sabrina Hamilton
More information at https://dciff-indie.org/#program
Tickets may be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/canary-in-a-gold-mine-by-jonathan-mirin-documentary-film-panel-and-rece-tickets-534502410097
About Piti Theatre
Founded in 2004 by American playwright/performer Jonathan Mirin and Swiss choreographer/designer Godelieve Richard, piti (pronounced “pea-tea”) is an ancient Indian (Pali) word translatable as “joy” or “rapture.” Piti programming plants seeds of joy, sustainability and justice. The troupe has received the Suzy Polucci Food and Justice Award, been nominated twice for an Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Award, received the Children’s Theater Foundation of America’s Aurand Harris Fund Award as well as Club Passim’s Iguana Fund Award for their collaboration with musician Carrie Ferguson. www.ptco.org
Full Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT ptco.org/canary and dciff-indie.org
Piti Theatre’s “Canary in a Gold Mine” to have DC Premiere, March 3rd @ DC Independent Film Festival
Inventive, comedic documentary sheds light on debilitating environmental illness
After a viral premiere at the Ko Festival of Performance, Piti Theatre’s “Canary in a Gold Mine” comes to the DC Independent Film Forum in Washington, DC on March 3rd at 6:30 pm, Landmark E Street Cinema Theatre, 555 11th Street, NW.
A unique blend of theatre and documentary, “Canary” uses a comedic lens to explore fatherhood, marriage and environmental health. Writer/Performer/Director Jonathan Mirin describes the show as “like theater…but flatter.” The one hour screening will be followed by a panel discussion with MD’s, elected officials, scientists, non-profit leaders and the filmmaker as well as a reception.
Locked down during COVID and desperate to return to the stage, Mirin turns the camera on himself, telling the story of the mysterious symptoms his life and production partner, Swiss choreographer/designer Godeliève Richard, began experiencing in 2010.
With Godeliève increasingly unable to leave the house and care for their new baby, the couple contends with the growing likelihood that her illness is environmental – and inescapable. Richard‘s severe neurological symptoms are triggered by exposure to EMFs, the wireless radiation that the rest of society is passionately embracing to connect phones and devices and upload cat videos.
As her electro-hypersensitivity (a.k.a. “microwave sickness”) worsens, Mirin finds himself compelled to become a public health advocate, activist and petitioner in a landmark legal case against the FCC. The result: a show that’s a 21st century love letter as well as a wakeup call to the risks of 24/7 wireless exposure.
Deirdre Evans-Pritchard, Executive Director of the Washington DC Independent Film Festival says “Five years ago we screened “Generation Zapped” which addressed the issue of wireless technology’s impact on children. Given the major legal decisions, policy changes and the sheer number of communities across the US who have grappled with the 5G rollout since then we are delighted to be able to share Jonathan’s unique and very personal approach to his first documentary after two decades of creating acclaimed theatre productions.”
KoFest Artistic Director and producer Sabrina Hamilton said, “This show is so entertaining, with wonderfully inventive camera work. Anyone who has experienced chronic illness themselves or helped a loved one in crisis will find comfort and laughter in it. It’s a fun and compelling dive into the opposing forces of corporate profit vs. public safety.”
About Piti Theatre
Founded in 2004 by American playwright/performer Jonathan Mirin and Swiss choreographer/designer Godelieve Richard, piti (pronounced “pea-tea”) is an ancient Indian (Pali) word translatable as “joy” or “rapture.” Piti programming plants seeds of joy, sustainability and justice. The troupe has received the Suzy Polucci Food and Justice Award, been nominated twice for an Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Award, received the Children’s Theater Foundation of America’s Aurand Harris Fund Award as well as Club Passim’s Iguana Fund Award for their collaboration with musician Carrie Ferguson. www.ptco.org
