WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night
marked the conclusion of the eighth annual March on Washington Film Festival, which was the first
in the festival's history to be held entirely online. The weeklong
festival, which extended access to its films and content through
Sunday, October 4, sold nearly 4,000
tickets in 45 states, Canada, the
United Kingdom, Brazil, Germany, India, Slovenia, and South
Korea, screened highly acclaimed films and featured vibrant
panel discussions with actress Yara
Shahidi, award-winning filmmaker Yoruba Richen,
The Root editor-in-chief Danielle
Belton, and other notable influencers and thought
leaders. The festival also featured one-of-a-kind highlights,
including a modern reimagining of the historic 1965 debate between
James Baldwin and William F. Buckley and a four-part short film
series on How to Heal Oppressions. You can watch all of the
engaging conversations for free here.
"This year, even as the festival adapted to an unprecedented
moment in our nation's history, we've continued to reach viewers
and festival goers around the globe," said Isisara Bey, artistic
director of the March on Washington Film Festival. "It's a
testament to the power that these stories hold, particularly at a
time when the history -- and the future -- of our movement feels
more urgent than ever. We are incredibly grateful for the
panelists, performers, and all of the brilliant storytellers who've
helped to make this year's festival our most successful one
yet."
Special Encore Gala Presentation
The festival also
paid tribute to modern-day civil rights icons at its awards gala.
Late Congressman John Lewis
received the Lifetime Legacy Award, which was renamed in his honor,
and was recognized with a special musical rendition of "Amazing
Grace" by country artist Jamey
Johnson, guitarist Robert
Randolph, blues musician Keb' Mo' and gospel
singer Angie Primm. Jazz
harmonicist Frederic Yonnet performed "Georgia" in honor of the late congressman and
Alvin Ailey choreographer
Jamar Roberts also performed
a dance tribute to him with an original work titled "In Memory."
Southern Poverty Law Center president Margaret Huang and Congresswoman
Maxine Waters both received
the March On award for their trailblazing work for civil
rights.
The festival will stream the awards gala on Facebook Live in a
special encore presentation for the public with remarks from The
Washington Post's Jonathan
Capehart, MSNBC host Joy
Reid, RFK Human Rights president Kerry Kennedy, and Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, on Tuesday, September 29 at 7:00 PM ET. Those interested in viewing can
access the gala here.
MoWFF Gives Back
In addition to screening popular
films like "All In: The Fight for Democracy" and "The Sit-In: Harry
Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show," the festival announced the
winners of its Student and Emerging Filmmaker Competition, as part
of its ongoing commitment to civil rights education. MoWFF received
nearly 100 submissions from all over the globe.
Winning Student Filmmakers:
- Grand Prize for Documentary: THE FIRST by Mohammed Saffouri
- Grand Prize for Narrative: HOME by Adewale Olukayode
- Runner Up for Documentary: FEMINISM: THE FIFTH WAVE, by
Molly E. Smith
- Runner Up for Narrative: PURPLE DICTATORSHIP by
Matheus Moura
Winning Emerging Filmmakers:
- Grand Prize for Documentary: LUPITA by Monica Wise Robles
- Grand Prize for Narrative: T by Keisha Rae Witherspoon
- Runner Up for Documentary: WELCOME STRANGERS by
Dia Sokol Savage
- Runner Up for Narrative: AN ACT OF TERROR by Ashley Paige Brim
You can watch these films and more here with a pass. In addition
to the competition, the festival offered Reel Empowerment Lab
virtual workshops, a two-day series of masterclasses, workshops and
discussions by industry experts about their careers in film,
entertainment, journalism, and more.
"As our nation continues to topple Confederate monuments and
correct its history, we must ask ourselves what we're putting in
their place," said Robert Raben,
founder of the March on Washington
Film Festival. "For eight years, the March on Washington Film Festival has made sure that
the rich, untold stories from the civil rights movement are not
forgotten and remain a part of our collective memory. This year's
festival yielded powerful stories, discussions, and performances to
recast our nation's history and lift up the heroes of the struggle
for civil rights. And as we look to next year's festival, we will
continue to use these stories to educate and inspire."
Founded in 2013 on the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on
Washington, the March on
Washington Film Festival
(MOWFF) is a civil rights and social justice legacy project. This
annual storytelling experience focuses on reclaiming the narrative
of the untold events and unsung heroes of the American civil rights
movement and inspiring renewed passion for activism. By leveraging
the power of film, music, scholarship, and the arts, the Film
Festival shares these important and influential stories to connect
the past, present and future in the fight toward social change in
America and throughout the world today. www.mowff.org
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SOURCE March on Washington Film
Festival