Showtimes available Aug. 26-Sept. 1 at The Pike Outlets

With the movement of thousands of colorful cargo containers at the Port of Long Beach in the title sequence, “America Boxed In” is a documentary that takes a close look at how a simple steel box has changed the planet for better and for worse.

The production focused on the intermodal container industry was created by Salt Lake City-based filmmakers Casey and Ian Williams of Paradigm Motion Picture Company and Lance Hoovestal of LE7 Productions. It’s playing with three daily screenings at Cinemark at The Pike Outlets from Aug. 26 through Sept. 1, as part of an Academy Award eligibility run.

The filmmakers  — who will be present to meet viewers following the Saturday, Aug. 27, screening — said they are excited to make their theatrical premier in downtown Long Beach, right next to the San Pedro Bay Port Complex, where key elements of the documentary were filmed. Long Beach and Los Angeles are home to the largest and most significant port facilities in the United States and are central to the themes discussed in the documentary.

The film explores the massive global impact of the intermodal container industry.

“The arrival of the shipping container turned the world into next-door neighbors,” a narrator states in the film’s theatrical trailer. “The connectivity that defines the 21st Century has created a world where profound strategic, economic and political shifts loom on the horizon. Like the opening of Pandora’s Box, we must now confront the most critical issue of our time: the consequences of globalization.”

Since entering the film festival circuit in January, “American Boxed In” was featured at the 75th Cannes Film Festival Marché du Film Market and has won 200 honors at 165 festivals. Wins have been picked up in multiple categories, including: best picture, best feature documentary, best social awareness film, best producing, best directing, best cinematography, best production designer, best opening credits, best trailer, best editing, best film score, best sound and best sound design.

Check local listings for show times.