FIRST THEY CAME FOR MY COLLEGE Film Screening Benefit

Film Director Patrick Bresnan Offers a Special Screening of FIRST THEY CAME FOR MY COLLEGE to Benefit Save the Woods, Presented by Mountain Lights Film Festival 

Asheville, NC

Save the Woods is grateful to announce that director Patrick Bresnan is offering a special benefit screening of his award-winning documentary FIRST THEY CAME FOR MY COLLEGE, sponsored by Mountain Lights Film Festival. The film will be presented by Mountain Lights Film Festival at Fine Arts Theatre at 36 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM. 100% of ticket profits from this special screening will go to Save the Woods to fund their campaign to save the 45-acre UNC Asheville urban forest located less than a mile from downtown.

FIRST THEY CAME FOR MY COLLEGE tells the inside story of the right-wing campaign to “reconquer” higher education in America. New College of Florida was the first public college to be transformed by a political coup—a blueprint for a new era of unprecedented censorship and political interference in academia. By embedding with the student newspaper, an outspoken professor, and students from all sides of the political spectrum, this verité feature reveals a microcosm of America's culture wars, and it serves as an essential document for students today grappling with their moment in history. (https://www.firsttheycameformycollege.com/)

The screening will be followed by an exclusive Q&A panel featuring Director Patrick Bresnan, editor Ivete Lucas, representatives from Save The Woods, and Adam Hobbs with Mountain Lights Film Festival.

Save the Woods is thrilled to partner with Patrick Bresnan and Mountain Lights Film Festival for this special screening and benefit event. 

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

• Time: Film screening at 7:00 PM, followed by Q&A with panel

• Location: Fine Arts Theatre, 36 Biltmore Ave, Asheville NC 28801

• Tickets are limited and available for purchase online at https://fineartstheatre.com/first-they-came-for-my-college

Patrick Bresnan Using precise, illustrative cinematic images, Patrick Bresnan makes vérité stories that counter the mythic concepts of America. He directed THE RABBIT HUNT, which premiered in the US at Sundance and in Europe at the Berlinale. The film won over 20 awards, including the Cinema Eye Honor. He co-directed the short SKIP DAY, which won the Grand Jury Prize at The Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes. He co-directed, shot, and produced the feature film PAHOKEE, which premiered in competition at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. His subsequent feature, NAKED GARDENS, premiered at Tribeca in 2022 and internationally at IDFA. He was a cinematographer on the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner BOYS STATE.

Mountain Lights Film Festival is a world-class festival for filmmakers and stories rooted in or inspired by the American Southeast. With your support Mountain Lights is building toward a full festival experience but currently experimenting with curated pop-up film screenings. We want great work to be seen! Co-founded by Adam Hobbs, A native of Asheville who also works as a filmmaker and cinematographer on films such as FINDERS KEEPERS, GAY CHORUS DEEP SOUTH, CHASIN’ BUTTERFLIES which have premiered at Sundance and Tribeca, and more. For more information, visit www.mountainlights.org to email us or follow us @mountainlightsfilmfest

Save the Woods is a movement organized by the Friends of the Woods. Friends of the Woods is a grassroots group dedicated to preserving UNC Asheville's 45-acre urban forest. Composed of students, faculty, alumni, and community members, our supporters have grown to over 18,000 advocates for transparency, environmental stewardship, and responsible land use. For more information, visit www.saveuncawoods.org. We are fiscally sponsored by Southern Conservation Partners, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.