Battleground Minnesota...in Austin

At Netroots Nation, this year's Screening Series just kicked off. Films, shorts, discussions and workshops, the series touches the variety of places where film/video and political activism connect.

The lead-off offering: The Media That Matters Film Festival, an annual collection of shorts on social justice and awareness that are made available online so anyone can stream their own film festival.

The opening film drew applause -- and here's why I'm writing about it here. "Battleground Minnesota" features an 18-year-old Minnesotan who convinces every major state office-holder -- Dem and Republican -- to talk with him about why young people should care about voting.

He then remixes the interviews into a hip-hop music video -- where original rap is interspersed with Mark Dayton wearing "Dem" bling," Norm Coleman unbuttons his shirt to hang out, Tim Pawlenty is turned into a supporting role rapper, and Walter Mondale gets his turn on headphones.

It's hilarious, and inspirational -- it plays with the cultural and generational gaps between past generations and the current one, but also the power of music, technology and mischief to bridge that divide.

Check it out -- (and if you're at Netroots Nation, come by) -- and thank Media That Matters for making its festival free and open to the public.