The National Museum of African American History and Culture Museum hosts its first film festival next month. (Photo by Rachel Sadon)
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is teaming up with Netflix for its first film festival in October, the museum announced Tuesday.
Netflix will be streaming its new documentary Quincy at the Smithsonian African American Film Festival. The film, which premiered at this month’s Toronto International Film Festival, follows the life of music producer and singer Quincy Jones, and was directed by Alan Hicks and Jones’ daughter, actress Rashida Jones.
Quincy Jones will also appear at a panel following the screening, scheduled for Friday, October 26. It debuts on Netflix this Friday.
“The museum is pleased to collaborate with Netflix in order to explore important moments in the history of America through the African American lens,” said Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the museum, in a statement. “We are pleased this original production by Netflix is a film that honors Quincy Jones whose creativity and commitment to racial justice are an example of the best of America.”
A news release stated that the museum’s partnership with Netflix is part of a larger mission for the museum to to go “beyond the building’s walls to bring the experience of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to people around the globe.”
The four-day Smithsonian African American Film Festival, scheduled to run Oct. 24-27, includes more than 80 films both old and new, with some national and regional premieres. The festival focuses on films that are relevant to African American history and culture. Juried film competitions will take place in five categories, including documentary features and narrative shorts.
The festival is set to recur every other year at NMAAHC, a museum spokesperson said.
The full slate of films will be announced this month. Passes for the entire festival are available now, and $10 tickets to individual screenings will go on sale in October.
