SPARK Filmmakers Collaborative

🆘The more I dig into Kirsty Coventry, @officialkirstycoventry current IOC President, the more and more I find… (here is a quick teaser). 🔴The IOC, under her leadership, has approved and managed the framework that allowed Russian athletes to participate as “neutrals” in the Paris 2024 Games and carried that structure forward into Milan 2026. In Paris, Ukrainian athletes expressed pride, remembrance, and solidarity. They dedicated medals, spoke about the war, and honored fallen athletes. No warnings and no bans were issued because what they were doing and how they were doing it didn’t warrant any response. Not to mention that Coventry had no authority at the time to issue any disciplinary action even if she wanted to. Fast forward to Milan 2026 and suddenly Ukrainian quotes, memorials, and messages are labeled “political propaganda.” Helmets banned. Warnings issued. Disqualifications enforced. And you ask, “Why?” It’s the same country of athletes. The same war. The same expressions we saw in Paris 2024. The difference is leadership. Kirsty Coventry is now in charge. And notably, upon her election, Vladimir Putin sent her a personal congratulatory message. Draw your own conclusions. I’m just giving you the black and white facts….

Submissions are now open for films up to 8 min long!

🎥 17th Native Women in Film Festival | March 8–13, 2026
Where Story Becomes Ceremony and Script Becomes Sovereignty™

🏆 Academy Awards Week Women of Color Decolonizing the Entertainment Industry
🔥 A global platform for Indigenous women storytellers.
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Tomorrow 11:30 am North Park Theatre:

"It Is Up To Us" film screening & tjalk baack with producers Producers Stephen McKinley Henderson & Steve Rosenthal moderated by Jillian Hanesworth.

This is a documentary about segregated/racist America, targeted to the many white citizens who are not conversant enough with the history of racism, and how it affects us all today and going forward. It is about the stories we tell of a ‘zero-sum’ country where if one group makes gains, another must experience loss. Racism, and the fear of ‘being replaced’ is at the root of many problems in this country — lack of: universal health care, universal day care, sensible gun control, equity in education, housing, generational wealth development, voting rights, and the list goes on.

Please join us for a matinee 'sneak preview' of our new documentary on Saturday, September 27 at 11:30 am in Buffalo's newly enhanced North Park Theatre

Tickets: $15 - available at the door