The March on Washington Film Festival is back for its fourth year, with 17 events including film screenings, filmmaker Q&A sessions, performances, and panels between today and July 23.
A cinematic showcase for civil rights activism from the ’60s to the present day, the festival was founded in 2013 on the 50th anniversary of the famous march. Noted Black Lives Matter activist DeRay McKesson is among the contemporary figures scheduled to appear, as is French-Senegalese journalist and activist Rokhaya Diallo. Courtland Cox, a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, will represent the 60s movement along with fellow activists C.T. Vivian, Dr. Gerlad Durley, Dr. Clarence Jones and Harvey Gantt.
Highlights include:
- A screening of Third and Long, a 2012 documentary about the racial integration of the NFL narrated by hip-hop legend Chuck D. A panel of former players will follow the screening, which commemorates this year’s 70th anniversary of the league’s integration. July 15, 6:30 to 9 p.m at the Naval Heritage Center.
- A panel entitled “What the White Church Must Do,” aimed at identifying the Christian community’s role in social justice action. July 17, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Washington National Cathedral.
- An awards ceremony at the White House for the festival’s first Student and Emerging Filmmaker Competition. A panel of entertainment industry professionals will judge the 85 submissions, which all answer the question, “What is your civil right?”
- Screenings of documentaries about Nina Simone, Maya Angelou, Mavis Staples, police unrest, forgotten blues musicians and a gifted philanthropist.
The festival takes place at various locations, including the Naval Heritage Center, the Cathedral, the National Archives, National Museum for Women and The Arts and several Smithsonian museums. A full schedule is available on the event’s website.
