The Denton Black Film Festival rolls out the red carpet for the 12th year with a lineup of movies and events that spotlight Black culture and creativity, and a theme that embraces hope and courage.
"We believe that putting hope and courage together was not onlygoing to inspire people but create a call to action," Harry Eaddy, executive director of the DBFF, said.
The festival also leans into history this year with several documentaries and feature films that take a deep dive into the past.
四虎影院鈥檚 Alexsis Jones and I took a closer look at three of these films, starting with , a film that brings a鈥痩ittle-known鈥痯art of Denton鈥檚 history to light.
DENTON HISTORY UNCOVERED
The film is about Quaker,鈥痑n African American community in Denton that functioned as a self-sufficient town-within-a-town, but in 1921,鈥痶he鈥痗ity forced residents out to 鈥痗reate鈥痑 park. Homeowners were pressured to sell their鈥痩and for鈥痯ennies鈥痮n the dollar鈥痑nd then鈥痳elocated鈥痶o property that was undeveloped and inferior.
Telling the story of Quakertown has been a two-year process for co-filmmakers Lindell Singleton and King Hollis. 鈥疉s a Denton native, Hollis learned about the community from stories his grandfather told him as a child.
Eaddy says it鈥檚 storytelling that drives the Denton Black Film Festival.鈥��
鈥淢uch of鈥痶he鈥痟istory in the black community is oral,鈥� Eaddy said. 鈥淭he exciting thing for us is really to be able to have an opportunity to showcase these stories, let people understand them, share them, and even think about their own families and what has鈥痟appened.鈥�
Quakertown, U.S.A. screens Feb. 1 at 3:40 p.m. at the Campus Theatre in Denton. Post-screening Q&A with co-directors, writers and producers, King Hollis and Lindell Singleton and Dr. Malcolm Foley, Special Advisor to the President for Equity and Campus Engagement at Baylor University.
THE BIRTH OF MEMPHIS SOUL
Another film with historical roots is the HBO documentary series
The film tells the story of a tiny record label in Memphis,鈥痶hat's鈥痗redited with the creation of the Memphis soul sound and the discovery of artists like Issac Hayes, Booker T and the MGs, Sam & Dave and of course, Otis Redding.
The evolution of Stax Records takes place during the鈥痟eight鈥痮f the civil rights movement, so their history, the history of soul music and the鈥痟istory鈥痮f race in America are all woven together. Even if documentaries鈥痑ren't鈥痽our thing,鈥痽ou're鈥痝oing to like this one. The music and鈥痶he personal鈥痵tories against the backdrop of the '60s will completely draw you in.鈥��
Staxs: Soulville U.S.A. screens Jan. 30, 5:30 p.m. at the Campus Theater in Denton. Q&A following the screening with Jamila Wignot, director of the series, hosted by Deanie Parker, former Vice President of Publicity and Promotions at Stax Records and co-founder of the Soulsville Foundation and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
A '90s STORY OF HOMELESSNESS AND HOPE
Moving from documentaries to feature films, Alexsis screened the drama Based on the true story of African American actor/storyteller Vin Shambry, it tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who experiences homelessness in 1990s Portland. The film focuses on his struggle to find shelter and the life-changing experience of attending a week-long outdoor camp, which provides him with a temporary escape.
The story highlights the profound power of being seen and鈥痚xplores how a tree can be a home and a鈥痜orest鈥� is a鈥痵chool.
Alexsis loved the cinematography鈥檚 warm lighting and soft film grain and remarked that the film felt like getting鈥痙ropped鈥痵traight into鈥痶he 鈥�90s.
鈥淭he message was heartbreakingly beautiful,鈥� Alexsis concluded. 鈥淚t perfectly captured the festival's theme鈥痮f hope and courage.鈥濃��
Outdoor School screens Feb 1st, 12:15 p.m. at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Theater # 1 in Denton. Post-screening Q&A with director/writer/producer Ime N. Etuk and actor Cycerli Ash.
runs through Sunday, Feb. 1, at venues around Denton. If you can't鈥痬ake it in person, you can catch a virtual鈥痮ption鈥疐eb. 1-8.
