Sioux Falls State Theatre to host a screening and Q&A on preserving our history

The Sioux Falls State Theatre will host a documentary film screening and Q&A on Tuesday about the nature of protecting our past to support our future.

“Lost and Found: Preserving the Past in a Disappearing World” is part of The State’s Science on Screen film series and will feature documentary “Arc of Oblivion,” a 2023 production about filmmaker Ian Cheney’s desire to build an ark on his family’s property in Maine. The film takes a deeper dive into worldwide efforts to preserve family memories and heirlooms, using the ark as a metaphor for safe-keeping.

The film includes interviews with science experts Werner Herzog and Kirsten Johnson.

“‘Arc of Oblivion’ is a visually striking and thought-provoking film that questions how we preserve knowledge and history,” said State Theatre executive director Allison Weiland. “Given how rapidly our digital and physical records are evolving, this topic feels especially timely.”

Following the film screening will be a discussion and Q&A with Augustana University professor David O’Hara, who will discuss his latest expedition to Guatemala, where he worked alongside a Mayan community to preserve their language and culture.

"It will be a fascinating discussion on memory, archives and the way we document our world," Weiland said.

O’Hara travels worldwide for research and teaching efforts with his students. He has conducted research in Belize, Alaska and Guatemala and currently teaches environmental humanities courses in Greece, Spain and Morocco.

At Augustana, he teaches ancient and American philosophy, environmental ethics and law, classical Chinese philosophy and the philosophy of religion.

What else to expect at The State

Science on Screen is a nationwide program that pairs film screenings with expert-led presentations. The State Theatre, located at 316 S. Phillips Ave., hosts three of these events each year and will host its next in May.

The State often hosts special event film screenings throughout the year. Last year, it welcomed actor Doug Jones for “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror" in September and premiered South Dakota filmmaker Andrew Kightlinger’s latest feature-length film, “Lost on a Mountain in Maine,” in November, including a Q&A afterward. Earlier this year, the theatre premiered a mockumentary web series called “Last Stop – The Series,” created by local filmmaker Dominic Wieneke. The event had multiple showings after selling out.

Next month, The State will welcome the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, featuring a screening of seven outdoor adventure films and hosted by The Great Outdoor Store.

The event will take place on Earth Day, April 22, and will include short-film documentaries “Home From Home,” “Wolf of Wingsuit,” “Canyon Chorus,” “Dropping Molly,” “Eliot Jackson – Drop the Mic,” “The Bird of My Backyard” and “Wild Days.”

This presentation at The State is one among 600 other community stops worldwide in 2025.

Tickets are $25, and all proceeds from the special presentation will support Falls Area Singletrack (FAST), a nonprofit that works to improve trail experiences in the Sioux Falls area.

If You Go

“Lost and Found: Preserving the Past in a Disappearing World,” a Science on Screen presentation featuring the 2023 documentary “Arc of Oblivion” and a Q&A afterward with Augustana University professor David O’Hara, will be 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets are $10 at the Sioux Falls State Theatre website.

Movies showing soon at the State Theatre

• “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,” March 26 and March 29
• Martin Scorcese film, “The Wolf of Wall Street,” March 27 and 30
• Academy Award-winning documentary “No Other Land,” March 28-29
• Disney’s “Brave,” March 29-30, April 5-6
• “9 to 5,” March 29-30