Exclusive screening of MIDDLETOWN – Riveting 90s Documentary + Q&A
Exclusive screening of MIDDLETOWN – Riveting 90s Documentary + zoom Q&A with protagonist Fred Isseks
Date and time
Location
Skye Gathering Hall Portree
1934 Bank St Portree IV51 9BZ United KingdomRefund Policy
About this event
- Event lasts 2 hours 30 minutes
Skye Community Cinema is proud to bring you exclusively the 2025 Sundance hit:
MIDDLETOWN
+ Live Zoom Q&A with protagonist Fred Isseks
--> civil courage takes center stage in this gripping true story of resistance & activism with a cool 90s vibe
Sunday, June 22nd at Skye Gathering Hall in Portree (doors 6.30pm/ film start 7pm)
- Enjoy a free glass of Prosecco or juice on this special night!
- if you are 21 years or under, this event is FREE! Just come along.
In collaboration with Breakish Windfarm Action Group & Skye Windfarm Information Group
To raise awareness for the Ben Aketil Public Inquiry starting the week of June 23rd
with an intro by Nick Ferguson
"Erin Brockovich meets The Breakfast Club." — Collider
About the film:
Fresh from Sundance, MIDDLETOWN follows a group of rebellious high school students and their unorthodox teacher Fred Isseks as they uncover a toxic waste scandal and go head-to-head with local corruption and organized crime in 1990s Upstate New York. Armed with camcorders and courage, these teens take investigative journalism into their own hands.
Isseks’ advice to the adults and the youth who want to be heard today? “Don’t be overwhelmed, don’t be discouraged, and don’t do it alone.”
"Middletown"'s focus on corruption and environmentalism makes it more relevant than ever - collider.
The Electronic English students have a punk rock “fight the system” attitude, and it brings back that old-school ’90s feeling of fighting authority. - cosmic circus.
When: Sundday, June 22nd, doors 6.30pm, film start 7.00pm sharp
Where: Skye Gathering Hall Portree, 1934 Bank St, Portree IV51 9BZ
Tickets: 10 GBP at eventbrite or cash at door on the evening. FREE for 21y and under.
About our Q&A guest: Fred Isseks
Fred Isseks was the unconventional teacher every student at Middletown High School hoped for. Described in his own 1966 yearbook as having “a streak of the devil,” Fred brought radical energy into the classroom, shaped by his involvement in the anti-Vietnam War movement during his college years.
In the 1990s, he created “Electronic English,” a media-based class where students used video cameras to document local issues. What started as a visual history project quickly became an investigative mission—exposing illegal toxic dumping tied to organized crime. Despite resistance from school administrators, Fred stood by the belief that students learn best by doing.
His work earned him a reputation as a crusader and formed the basis of his PhD on “media courage,” completed in 2003. Though the school eventually defunded his program, Fred remained committed to environmental justice—archiving footage, monitoring local landfills, and advocating for accountability.
He lives in Middletown, New York, with his wife Denise, and continues to fight for the causes he believes in.
Thank you for supporting us by coming to our screenings!
Without you we could not bring these independent films plus guests to Skye.
Our next screening will take place on July 23rd - save the date.
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About Skye Community Cinema:
Skye Community Cinema brings special event screenings monthly to Skye in different locations, including discussions and Q&A’s with talent - presented by Lena Vurma's Skye Films Ltd and writer/director Thor Klein.
Thank you for the support:
Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI.