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Filmmaker brings documentary about sea-level rise and devastation of Superstorm Sandy to Monmouth U. on September 9

Filmmaker Ben Kalina will bring his documentary about Superstorm Sandy, Shored Up to Monmouth University’s Pollak Theatre on Monday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m. The film is free and open to the public and there will be a Q & A with the filmmaker following the screening.  There will also be a post screening panel with: 

Tony MacDonald, Director of the Urban Coast Institute, Monmouth University

Dr. Norbert P. Psuty, Professor Emeritus, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences Rutgers University

John Weber, Mid Atlantic Regional Manager, Surfrider Foundation

Ben Kalina, Director of Shored Up

Shored Up is an urgent call to action in the face of accelerating sea-level rise, presenting the devastation of Hurricane Sandy as a window into the future. Set in Long Beach Island, New Jersey and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the film explores the political conflicts and personal stakes of seaside communities. Shored Up talks to scientists, politicians, residents and a wide range of experts to expose major shortcomings in coastal management and the urgent need for change. The film is a look at what happens when we ignore the realities of nature in our drive to inhabit and profit from our coastlines.

Ben Kalina’s work focuses on the intersection of science, culture and the environment. He directs and produces original documentaries, narrative shorts and cross-media projects as well as client-driven video productions. Kalina has worked for years with Niijii Films on the documentaries Two Square Miles and A Sea Change, two award-winning films which have been successfully deployed for environmental justice and education, and both of which have been nationally broadcast in the U.S. In addition to his documentary work, Kalina has won several international awards for his short narrative film, Diorama.

The event is sponsored by Monmouth University’s Department of Communication and the Center for the Arts, and part of the “On Screen: In Person” film series, which brings six films and filmmakers to Monmouth University as part of a tour of the Eastern seaboard. On Screen: In Person is made possible in part through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Touring Program.