The Westport Cultural Council will host its seventh annual film series on three consecutive Wednesdays this summer - August 15, 22, and 29, 2018 at 7:00 pm. The film series, free and open to the public, is made possible through a grant from the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust.  It will be held at the Dedee Shattuck Gallery, 1 Partners Lane, Westport, MA.

This year, the Council presents three documentary films with the theme “CHILD POWER” highlighting stories of amazing children’s lives and their powerful achievements.  Each film will be introduced by a guest speaker or demonstration, with a question and answer period to follow each showing.  

Wednesday August 15, 2018.  "LADIES FIRST" Directed by: Uraaz Bahl, 2018, 39 Min.

"Girls belong at home not on the sports field. Sports are only for boys. Girls should cook, look after their home and raise their children, that's their role."  Born amid poverty, cultural taboos and limited women's rights in the village of Ratu, India, Deepika Kumari rose to become the number 1 female archer in the world at age18. She faced all odds to follow her dream in a land where girls don't come first and opened the door for those to follow.

Our guest speaker is Hana Tabit, an archer whose competitive travels have taken her across country to national tournaments to include participating in the 2015 Olympic Trials which led up to the 2016 Olympics.  Hana will provide a brief demonstration of Olympic archery and the beautiful equipment associated with it describing her experiences of some of the challenges a young woman in fierce competition for a chance at Olympic gold can face.