"[Films have the power] to present painful but important issues to the public." At the 68th Academy Awards, Christopher Reeve made his first public appearance following the horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed, and the standing ovation he received couldn't have been more fitting for a superhero. He used his moment on stage to emphasize the power films have to enlighten, educate and challenge perceptions about important social issues. | The Academy

Speaking to a crowd of more than 6,000 at a Labor Day rally in Portland, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont railed against what he said is an oligarchy of billionaires exerting too much influence over America’s economy, politics and the media. The event was part of Sanders’ nationwide “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. He also used the event to effectively endorse the campaigns of two statewide candidates in Maine: former Senate President Troy Jackson, who is running for governor, and Graham Platner, a