FINAL BALLOTS ARE STILL BEING CAST FOR BEST POLITICAL FILMS OF 2009
The time has come to determine winners of the best political films of 2009. Mark your ballot YES if you believe that the film is the best in each category. Mark NO if you feel that the film is undeserving. If you did not see a film, the best way to vote is by putting an X for UNDECIDED. Polls close at midnight February 28. If the emailed ballot is difficult to read, kindly go to the website.
For EXPOSÉ films, namely those that bring to prominence lesser known facts that raise political consciousness, vote to accept the best from the following nominees. Only one film can be selected as YES.
For films that promote human rights, vote for the top film as YES:
| FILM TITLE | YES | NO | UNDECIDED | CONTENT |
| Avatar | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | genocidal means to exploit resources |
| The Cove | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | most captured dolphins are slaughtered |
| District 9 | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | fictionalized aliens as if in apartheid South Africa |
| Invictus | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | how Mandela brought post-apartheid reconciliation |
| The Stoning of Soraya M. | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | stoning for infidelity based on husband’s power |
For films that promote PEACE, vote for the top film as YES:
| FILM TITLE | YES | NO | UNDECIDED | CONTENT |
| Avatar | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | preemptive war by “shock and awe” |
| Fifty Dead Men Walking | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | futility of violence by the British & the IRA |
| Flame & Citron | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | Nazi occupation of Denmark |
| The Hurt Locker | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | absurdity of the Iraq War |
| Inglourious Basterds | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | insignificance of revenge killing |
Only one film was nominated for the category DEMOCRACY. If you agree that that film should win, choose YES. If not, vote NO.
| FILM TITLE | YES | NO | UNDECIDED | CONTENT |
| Invictus | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | Mandela uses rugby so Whites accept Black rule. |
From time to time, the Board of Directors proposes a special Stanley Award for a film that was not nominated in the past but in hindsight should have been. In the case of Cider House Rules, no nomination was forthcoming because the film was exhibited at the end of 1999 without publicity that the focus was on abortion.
| FILM TITLE | YES | NO | UNDECIDED | CONTENT |
| Cider House Rules | ( ) | ( ) | ( ) | The case for a woman’s right to choose an abortion. |
The Political Film Society Board of Directors will meet on Monday, March 1, at 9 a.m. (8481 Allenwood Road, LA 90046) to count ballots. Winners will be announced later that day.
MY NAME IS KHAN IS NOMINATED FOR BEST HUMAN RIGHTS FILM OF 2010
Directed by Karan Johar, the film focuses on Rizwan Kahn (played by Shah Rukh Kahn), who has social anxiety. After his mother dies, he lives with his brother in San Francisco, meets and marries Mandira (played by Kajol), who has a son, six-year-old Sameer (played by Yuvaan Makaar), and they move to suburban Danville. After 9/11, they encounter prejudice, notably a fight a school that ends in Sameer’s death. Rizwan then tries to get the attention of Americans that a Khan is not a terrorist. The Political Film Society has nominated My Name Is Khan for an award as best film on human rights of 2010. MH