Farmers institute to host two documentary film nights at theatre

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A non-profit within the Peace region wants to introduce the public to local farming, courtesy of documentary films.

The Peace Region Farmers Institute (PRFI) will host two films in its documentary film night series in March and April at the Lido Theatre.

According to the PRFI’s food hub coordinator, Michelle Schaeffer, the organization is a farmer and rancher-led outfit which works together for local food production from sustainable farmers and ranchers and food producers.

Schaeffer describes the PRFI’s online website as an “online farmers’ market” to purchase produce.

“Part of our mandate is to do extension work for agriculture, food production, networking and opportunities for education,” Schaeffer told Energeticcity.ca. “Our slower season is the winter, so we have time to put this together.

“We came up with an idea where we could bring an affordable event to the Peace region. Where we could talk about produce, food production in a different context. Not mainstream food production, but [though] organic, regenerative, small scale and Indigenous lenses.”

The first film being shown is Women Who Dig on Wednesday, March 11th. 

Directed by Anna Kuelken, the film was inspired by author Trina Moyles’ 2018 book entitled ‘Women Who Dig: Farming, Feminism and the Fight to Feed The World.’

The film was released in 2025 and tells the story of five women farmers, all “pushing back against industrial practices” and “combating global concerns of how we understand food and our environment.”, according to the film’s website. 

Kuelken will be on hand during the film’s screening along with Indigenous farmer Tiffany Traverse. Traverse is a land steward and seed keeper on the Fourth Sister Farm in Groundbirch.

On Tuesday, April 14th, the Lido will also hold the second film of the series: Ryan Dickie’s Tea Creek.

It highlights the efforts of Jacob Beaton’s initiatives toward Indigenous-centric agriculture sovereignty, at his family’s farm, named Tea Creek, near Kitwanga, B.C.

The 2024 film garnered critical acclaim and was nominated for three awards at Surrey’s Sundar Prize Film Festival.

Schaeffer added that consistent with its role connecting local farm producers to consumers, the PRFI is working with a local caterer and will have appetizers on hand, with the food being grown by local farmers.

A Q-and-A session will be held following the screenings.

The PRFI’s Documentary Film Nights will happen on March 11th and April 14th, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and showtime set for 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for children and $20 for adults and can be purchased online through the Lido’s website.