Documentary featuring Alaskan residents screened at Valley Cinema

WASILLA — A public film screening for The Clowder Group's new documentary "All the Lonely People" was held at the Valley Cinema Wednesday, Jan. 24.

"All the Lonely People" features interviews with people from across the world, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, New York, Washington, and San Francisco. It also includes stories told by Alaskans residents from Anchorage and Palmer.

The film follows the various perspectives of people from different walks of life as they overcome social isolation and chronic loneliness. According to film producer Joseph Applebaum, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused more people to experience these conditions.

"It affects everybody around the world," Applebaum said. "The whole idea was to show this is a 'we' problem… My big takeaway is that this is something we all suffer from."

Applebaum said it was an insightful journey collecting so many different stories from around the world.

"It was very powerful. We wanted to hear all the different examples," Applebaum said. "It was very heartfelt."

"All the Lonely People" was made not only to shine a light on the widespread sense of loneliness sweeping the world, but also provide hope and inspiration by sharing the latest research and interventions to encourage empowerment and social reconnection. Applebaum said that he's happy with how the film turned out.

"I think that we achieved our goals," Applebaum said.

Applebaum said everyone feels lonely to varying degrees at different times, and one of the best ways to combat that loneliness is to simply take time out of one's day to make a meaningful social interaction with someone else.

"Solutions don't have to be complicated… You can do proactive things to pull yourself out of feeling socially isolated," Applebaum said.

Applebaum said that filming in Alaska offered an interesting view of the state's unique challenges that contribute to loneliness such as geographic isolation and the long and harsh winters.

"I think it gave me a good sense of how hard life can be here," Applebaum said.

The film screening held at Valley Cinema also featured a panel discussion. Applebaum was joined by numerous local speakers such as Dawn Paulson from Beacon Hill, Amberly Breja with Northgate Church, and That Thing Goin On Facebook group founder Emily Geiger.

Local groups such as Alaska Behavioral Health, Mat-Su Health Foundation, and Rock Mat-Su worked together to host the film screening.

"I think it went great," Rock Mat-Su Social Connections Coordinator Colleen Andrews said. "It was an interesting panel discussion."

Geiger said that she really enjoyed the film and expressed how important the subject matter was.

"This is something that needs to be talked about widely," Geiger said.

The screening at Valley Cinema is just one of many public screenings yet to be held. Applebaum said they plan to show the film far and wide and people can check the film website for screening events.

The Clowder Group is a social impact documentary production company based out of California.

"We pick subjects we feel a light needs to be shown on," Applebaum said.

To learn more about The Clowder Group and their other film projects, visit theclowdergroup.com.

To learn more about "All the Lonely People," visit allthelonelypeoplefilm.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com