THE SPACE RACE

Due to the weather, the Friday Harbor Film Festival’s FREE Best of the Fest series begins with showing The Space Race at the San Juan Island Grange on Friday, January 26 at 7 pm. No ticket or RSVP is required.

THE SPACE RACE

A film about connectivity, community, mentorship, and the importance of trailblazers, The Space Race explores the experiences of the first Black astronauts through decades of archival film and interviews.

Directed by Lisa Cortes and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, it captures the journey of space flight through the unrelenting spirit and resilience of the black community and those who would break down barriers for astronauts who would follow. This documentary uncovers the little-known stories of the first Black pilots, engineers, and scientists to become astronauts. It weaves together the stories of Black astronauts seeking to break the bonds of social injustice to reach for the stars, including Guion Bluford, Ed Dwight, and Charles Bolden.

Addressing the racial injustice within NASA across several decades, the film follows these pioneers who fought to overcome both the obstacles encountered during their astronaut training and the challenges that stemmed from the racial prejudice and discrimination present at the time. It highlights how their perseverance challenged the definition of “the right stuff,” even when their stories were omitted from the history books.

Thank you to our 2024 Best of the Fest Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor: SaviBank

Media Sponsor: Cascade Public Media | KCTS9