5 Opportunities to Experience the World This Winter

Holland area residents have multiple opportunities to explore the world in February and March through programs hosted by the International Relations Commission (IRC) of the City of Holland.

The 2026 Reel Time Film Series follows young female activists in Chile, Hong Kong, and Uganda, a friendship between a Palestinian activist and an Israeli journalist, and three Ukrainian artists defending their craft, culture, and country. With screenings at 7pm on Tuesdays, February 24, March 10, and March 24 at the Knickerbocker Theatre, the series of award-winning films is a program of the IRC and Hope College. Admission is free but kindly register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-reel-time-film-series-tickets-1980195528130?aff=oddtdtcreator

DEAR FUTURE CHILDREN
Tuesday, February 24, 7pm
Knickerbocker Theatre

“Dear Future Children” follows three young female activists—Rayen in Chile, Pepper in Hong Kong, and Hilda in Uganda—as they fight for social justice, democracy, and climate action in their respective countries. The film explores the challenges, personal impact, and motivations of their activism, aiming to show the humanity behind the movements and inspire future generations.  This film selection is hosted by the Holland Youth Advisory Council (HYAC).

NO OTHER LAND
Tuesday, March 10, 7pm
Knickerbocker Theatre

The 2025 Academy Award winner for Best Documentary, “No Other Land,” follows Palestinian activist Basel Adra as he documents the destruction of his community in Masafer Yatta by Israeli forces-- the largest single act of forced transfer ever carried out in the occupied West Bank.  Co-directed by a Palestinian-Israeli collective including journalist Yuval Abraham, the film explores their complex bond amidst the extreme inequality of life under military occupation. This act of creative resistance depicts a decade-long struggle against forced displacement and serves as a search for justice during the region's darkest times.

PORCELAIN WAR
Tuesday, March 24, 7pm
Knickerbocker Theatre

Three Ukrainian artists find inspiration and beauty as they defend their culture and their country from Russian invasion. In a war waged by professional soldiers against ordinary civilians, Slava Leontyev, Anya Stasenko, and Andrey Stefanov choose to stay behind, armed with their art, their cameras, and, for the first time in their lives, their guns. As the war intensifies, Andrey picks up his camera to film their story, and on tiny porcelain figurines, Anya and Slava capture their idyllic past, uncertain present, and hope for the future. “Porcelain War” is one of the most decorated documentary features of 2024.

For more information about these films and previous selections of the Reel Time Film Series, visit reeltime.cityofholland.com.

As part of Great Decisions 2026, America’s largest annual discussion program on world affairs, the IRC and the Herrick District Library will host two public presentations by international affairs experts.  Admission is free but kindly register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-decisions-2026-tickets-1982438741642?aff=oddtdtcreator .

African Agriculture: Food Security & the Need for Radical Transformation
Tuesday, February 24, at 10:00 am
Herrick District Library Classroom

Bill Moseley, Professor of Geography at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, will discuss food security in post-colonial Africa. Using case studies from Mali, Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Botswana, he challenges production-centric approaches and proposes sustainable policies for resilient, locally controlled food systems.

Fostering a Fourth Democratic Wave: Countering the Authoritarian Threat 

Tuesday, March 4^th, 12 PM
Herrick District Library Auditorium

Hardy Merriman, former president of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, addresses the global rise of autocracy and the decline of democracy. He argues that reversing this trend is vital for global security and that the most effective catalyst for change is the people living under authoritarian rule. Supporting their struggles for human rights offers a critical opportunity to restore democratic values worldwide.

A program of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, Great Decisions runs every Tuesday evening from 6-7:15 pm, February 3rd through March 24^th. Each presentation is held at The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum; video recordings are posted on YouTube the following day. For the full lineup of speakers, visit https://worldmichigan.org/program-series/.

About the International Relations Commission:

The goal of the International Relations Commission is to build and maintain meaningful relationships between the people of Holland and the wider world through cultural, educational, and professional contact. Programs include Great Decisions, American’s largest discussion program on world affairs; Reel Time film series; collaboration with our sister city Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico; and the International Festival of Holland. For more information visit Internationalrelations.cityofholland.com.