Reel and Meal at the New Deal

Reel and Meal is a monthly film series at the New Deal Cafe exploring vital environmental, animal rights, and social justice issues. Admission to the film is always free, sponsored by several Greenbelt community organizations. Contributions are gladly accepted to cover each month’s donation to a non-profit organization.

Reel and Meal events are in-person (limited seating) and online via Zoom. Each month registration links will be posted here.  You can also reach out to Reel and Meal at .

Date: Third Monday of every month
Time: The free film starts at 6pm or 6:30pm.
Dinner: See event for cafe dining details.
Location: Online or at the New Deal Cafe at 113 Centerway in historic Greenbelt, MD
Public transportation: The cafe is accessible by Metro Bus P20 from the Greenbelt Metro station.
Joining from Zoom and living locally: You can find take out plant-based options at the cafe as well as:

  • Greenbelt Co-Op: ( Tofu Bahn Mi sandwich (self service deli); Veggie spring roll; Greek Table Shepherd’s Pie; Channa Masal (refrigerated case); Dodah’s cakes for desert, among many others)
  • SunRise Caribbean Restaurant (menu)
  • Cedars of Lebanon (menu)

August 17, 2026

Refugees: Then and Now

The Reel and Meal at the New Deal Cafe for Monday, August 17th will show four Utopia Film Festival films. Ukraine still has the most refugees of anywhere in the world.

Italian filmmakers show Ukrainians fleeing to Hungary at the start of the 2022 Russian invasion in “Train to Budapest”.

“Kharkiv, Ukraine: My Beautiful, Suffering (Resilient) City”  records the 2022 events in their second largest city, located just 8 miles from the Russian border. It Is updated to 2026 showing  people enduring, helping each other, and heroically maintaining their community. Life goes on there despite daily bombings, wartime hardships and with an admirable, amazing determination to thrive.

“Remember Everything: to Not Forget Anyone” takes us to an island off Greece where hundreds of refugees who lost their lives at sea fleeing hostilities are commemorated.

“Red, White Blue and Yellow” is our sneak preview for the upcoming 2026 Utopia Film Festival. Ukrainians in Atlanta, Georgia demonstrate their delightful culture, cuisine, music and art to raise funds to help their country in its hour of need.

Two other features make this Reel and Meal program special. The normal discussion about the films will be followed by everyone’s recall of either their own journey to refuge or of an ancestor who made that journey to safety and freedom.

Sponsored by the Greenbelt Refugee Aid Committee, ceramic ware will be available as thank you gifts for donations to help Ukraine.

With the recent changes to our cooperative, we are returning to the volunteer cooked and served buffet line meal that worked so well for many years. Dinner will be our famous vegan New Deal Chili, with sides and dessert. Come hungry at 6 PM for the traditional meal of Reel and Meal. Proceeds from the $15 dinner will benefit the Cafe. The program, as always, is free.

You can also join on Zoom by registering at tinyurl.com/ReelMeal2026.