The City of Berkeley in partnership with BAMPFA presents The Hate Man, Street Philosopher as part of a City of Berkeley event celebrating Mark Hawthorne, known as the Hate Man. Directed by Ivan Jaigirdar, this new, 33-minute documentary explores the enigmatic life of the well-known Berkeley street philosopher, including why he chose to quit his job as a New York Times journalist, drop out of mainstream society, and live in the streets and in Berkeley's People's Park. 

Challenging conventional notions of success, conformity, progress and morality, the film's subject lucidly discusses and defends his own “downward mobility” and personal theories of human communication. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging negativity and critiques the positivist bias of American mass culture. Incorporating scenes of Hate’s acerbic, playful and witty heckling, the film investigates and addresses the religious, cultural, and ideological paradoxes of a world where the preachers of "love" damn us to hell, and the self-named “Hate Man” and his followers teach caring and an acceptance of diversity.

Sponsored by Berkeley Council Members Kriss Worthington and Kate Harrison, Midnights for Maniacs, Artists' Television Access, and 3rd i Films.