Bicentennial film series at MMA

 

 

For more than a century, the landscapes and stories of Mississippi have inspired filmmakers. Today, that history is alive at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

A powerful new film series, “Moving Images in Mississippi,” will be shown through July during the Mississippi Museum of Art’s bicentennial exhibition, “Picturing Mississippi: 1817-2017.” On the fourth Thursday and Friday of each month, the public is invited to attend the new film series to celebrate cinema and Mississippi.

Curated and introduced by longtime Mississippi film commissioner Ward Emling, the series will include panels and one-on-one filmmaker interviews to discuss the films in cinematic, cultural, and historical context.  

“We hope to do more than showcase films produced in Mississippi,” Emling said. “We will highlight the opportunity of film in Mississippi today through the work of the Mississippi Film Office; the contributions of the film organizations and festivals; and the curriculum in programs at our high schools, colleges, and universities.” 

Beginning in Natchez in 1914, storytellers have used our backdrops to enhance and authenticate their vision. The imagination of our writers and the drama of our history have been brought to life by directors of influence, insight, and power. Cinema has explored, enhanced and explained Mississippi, and continues to do so today. From works like This Property is Condemned on the Gulf Coast to LaLee’s Kin in the Delta, from a rascal named Huck to a dog named Skip, from the light touch of The Reivers to the heavy grasp of Mississippi Burning, the cinematic life of Mississippi plays an influential role in the growth of America’s culture.

The bicentennial film series is free and open to the public. Each film begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Trustmark Grand Hall. The schedule is as follows:

Feb 22-23: Once and Again

“The Help”

“LaLee’s Kin”

March 22-23: Rise and Response

“Mississippi Burning”

“Freedom Song”

April 26-27: Home and Everywhere Else

“The Reivers

TBD

May 24-25: Star-Crossed and Found

“This Property is Condemned”

“Dixieland”

June 28-29: Neighbors and Strangers

“Cookie’s Fortune”

TBD

July 26-27: Life, as We Know it

“My Dog Skip

“Great Drives: Highway 61”

*Film shown subject to change due to panelist availability.

For more information, visit www.msmuseumart.org or contact Stacy M. Clark, Director of Marketing at Mississippi Museum of Art: sclark@msmuseumart.org or (601) 960-1515