DocFest: The Fair & Oakland Strong

The Fair: Set in a conservative, mostly white Midwestern community – not far from where Abraham Lincoln once lived as a young man – The Fair looks at American rural life and pastimes through the spectacle of an annual county fair. As we witness rituals of livestock judging, craft competitions, pig chases, and an extended behind-the-scenes look at the fair’s beauty pageant, the image of a tight-knit community emerges. Infused with subtle touches of humor, The Fair is an ethnographic look at mainstream rural America where traditional gender roles long predate TikTok “tradwives” trends and where our complicated relationship with animals emerges as a potent undercurrent.

Oakland Strong (David Godinez): For over a decade, Coach Mike Jenkins has taught Olympic weightlifting for free—right in the heart of Oakland. With zero city support, he’s produced national and international champions, college-bound scholars, and confident leaders. But strength alone can’t keep the lights on.