*The 2nd annual Juneteenth Movie Pageant returns to Kansas Metropolis on Wednesday, June 4th. This 12 months’s pageant will primarily characteristic movies written, directed and produced by Kansas Citians together with Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Willmott. All movies might be screened on the Screenland Armour Theater in North Kansas Metropolis.
Curated by award-winning Fox 4 Information movie critic Shawn Edwards, the 2nd annual Juneteenth Movie Pageant will showcase characteristic movies, documentaries and shorts produced by Black filmmakers.
“As we have a good time Juneteenth, probably the most essential days in African American historical past, I felt it was essential that we embrace groundbreaking cinema that embodies the spirit of the vacation,” mentioned Edwards. “Kansas Metropolis has one of many longest operating Juneteenth celebrations within the nation. Now we now have one of many solely movie festivals within the nation that honors the vacation by celebrating Black filmmaking.”
This 12 months’s movie pageant is sponsored by the Black Film Corridor of Fame, Celebration of Black Cinema and Tv, Wilson’s Industries LLC, Home of Kush and the Kansas Metropolis Movie Workplace.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Tuesday, June 4th: Black Filmmakers Blissful Hour hosted by Movie KC (Screenland Armour) 5:00PMTuesday, June 4th: Movie KC presents “Beneath: Youngsters of the Solar” Directed by David Kirkman (Screenland Armour) 7:00PMWednesday, June fifth: “The Pistol” Directed by Paul and Kenneth Rayford (Screenland Armour) 6:30PM and eight:30PMSunday, June ninth: Celebration Occasion “We Hanging with Clarence” Hosted by rapper Roblo da Star (The Velvet Freeze Daiquiris/Smaxx) 7:00PMWednesday, June twelfth: “Kansas Metropolis Dreamin’” Directed by Diallo Javonne French (Screenland Armour) 6:30PMWednesday, June twelfth: “What’s N Kansas Metropolis?” Directed by Skiem Heim (Screenland Armour) 8:30PMWednesday, June nineteenth: “Binding Us Collectively” Directed by Kevin Willmott (Screenland Armour) 6:30PM and eight:30PMWednesday, June twenty sixth “Drout 2” Directed by Isiah King (Screenland Armour) 6:30PM*The brief movie “BF” directed by Jamie Addison will display screen earlier than every characteristic each night time of the pageant.
FILM SYNOPSIS
BINDING US TOGETHERA heartfelt, inspiring narrative that’s inextricably linked to the nation’s previous and current, civil rights activist and public servant Alvin Brooks shares partaking, humorous, and tragic tales of his life and profession of advocacy in Kansas Metropolis.
DROUT 2The sequel to the extremely profitable underground hit “Drout.” After King is launched from jail he encounters a tragic occasion. The outcomes of which begin a revengeful battle on the streets of Kansas Metropolis as he continues his struggles with the legislation whereas attempting to lastly get out of the sport.
KANSAS CITY DREAMIN’Kansas Metropolis Dreamin’ is a documentary in regards to the African American music historical past of the town. It options interviews with Melissa Etheridge, Tech N9ne, Bobby Watson, Oleta Adams, Lonnie McFadden, Oscar winner Kevin Willmont, and plenty of extra. With segments on Charlie Parker, Rely Basie, Janelle Monae, Large Joe Turner, and different Kansas Metropolis natives. The movie celebrates Kansas Metropolis’s contribution to American music.
THE PISTOL“The Pistol” is a gripping documentary that delves into the real-life accounts of infamous gangster Kenneth Rayford. Directed by Paul Rayford, the movie particulars the exploits of Kenneth Rayford from his time as a youth rising up on the imply streets of Kansas Metropolis, Missouri as much as maturity when he ran the streets of Kansas Metropolis. By means of interviews with Kenneth himself, his accomplices and precise information footage the documentary reveals the lifetime of a real-underworld crime determine. “The Pistol” paints a compelling portrait of a person who actually devoted his complete life to the felony underworld, maintained a strong status and really lived to speak about it.
WHAT’S N’ KANSAS CITY?Skiem Heim, Kansas Metropolis’s official avenue journalist, takes you on a guided tour of the locations on the coronary heart of Kansas Metropolis’s Black tradition.
UNDERNEATH: CHILDREN OF THE SUNThis mind-bending Afrofuturist story embarks on a panoramic journey of galactic politics, heritage, and future. In 1857, a slave in Little Dixie, Missouri is thrust into an intergalactic crises after serving to an alien from a crashed spaceship. An ultra-powerful alien artifact passes via generations of bloody fingers and inheritors right here on Earth, together with the current, and in the end results in an epic battle for management. “Beneath: Youngsters of the Solar” is St. Louis filmmaker David Kirkman’s characteristic movie debut.
THE VOICE | KCUR | KANSAS CITY FILM OFFICE
KEVIN WILLMOTT BIOKevin Willmott is a professor of movie on the College of Kansas and a movie author and director. He’s identified for work specializing in black points together with writing and directing “Ninth Road,” “C.S.A.: The Accomplice States of America” and “Bunker Hill.” His movie “The Solely Good Indian,” which he directed and produced, premiered on the Sundance Movie Pageant in 2009. In 2013, Willmott’s movies “Vacation spot: Planet Negro!” and “Jayhawkers” have been each launched. He additionally served as a author on Spike Lee’s movie “Chi-Raq” and as a screenwriter on Lee’s movie “BlacKkKlansman” which received an Oscar and BAFTA for greatest tailored screenplay in 2019.
SHAWN EDWARDS BIOShawn Edwards is an award-winning journalist and movie critic at Fox 4 Information in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri the place he started working in 2000. Throughout his 20-plus 12 months profession Edwards co-founded the African American Movie Critics Affiliation in 2003, created a Celebration of Black Cinema & Tv in 2014 and created the Black Film Corridor of Fame in 2022. He has additionally produced a number of documentaries on the historical past of Black movie. Edwards is at the moment the manager producer of the Critics Alternative Affiliation’s Celebration of Black Cinema & Tv award present, writing a guide on the historical past of Black movie and producing two characteristic movies “The Soul of Santa” and “The Richest Little Woman within the World: The Sarah Rector Story.” He additionally contributes as a juror for a number of movie festivals and seems on a number of nationally syndicated tv and radio applications offering his perception on the movie and tv industries.
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