The Roxbury Film Festival is one of my favorite thing about Boston. This is the 14th Year of the festival and each year they keep outdoing years past. The festival runs through June 13th – 17th with screenings at Northeastern University, Mass Art, the MFA and The Haley House.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the festival and are thinking you should check it out – yes! You should! Here are some of the film highlights:
Wednesday, June 13th
To kick things off they will be having an opening night reception at The National Center for Afro American Artists (300 Walnut Ave, Roxbury) from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Enjoy lots of food and mingling!
Thursday, June 14th
Take your favorite sports fan to see the festivals opening night film from Matthew A. Cherry’s film about life after athlete in “The Last Fall” featuring Lance Gross and Nicole Beharie. See our interview with the director here! And buy tickets here! Film begins at 7:00pm and will be screened at the MFA (465 Huntington Ave) Enjoy Q&A with the director after the film!
Friday, June 15th
For the new residents to Boston who want to know about how parts of Boston’s transit line came to be, you may want to check out the film “Equal or Better” The Story of the Silver Line explores the history of transportation equity in America through the lens of three communities in Boston. It unearths a story of environmental justice, race relations, and probes how tax-dollars are allocated for transportation in this nation. Tickets are $9.00 and are available here!
Saturday June, 16th
Celebrate local artist Paul Goodnight in the World Premiere of the film “Paul Goodnight: The Prime Time Image Maker” by Dennis Salumu which talks about his life as a foster child who later fought in the Vietnam War as an adult and battled drug abuse to become one of the most sought after African American imagemakers today. Discussion with director Dennis Salumu and Paul Goodnight follows screening. Tickets are $11.00 and can be purchased here! It begins at 3:15pm at the MFA (465 Huntington Ave).
See our hometown bad boy Bobby Brown laughing at himself in the film “Get Out of the Way” filmed by Justin Etheridge – Brown’s soon-to-be brother-in-law. The film is the story of a dogged, young R&B star named B-Live, short on talent but obsessed with hitting the big time and being given the run around by his idol Bobby Brown. Bobby Brown plays himself in the movie. For tickets, click here! Film starts at 6:00pm at Northeastern’s Egan Center (400 Huntington Ave)
If you’re tired of hearing your significant other saying “why don’t you take me anywhere” take them to The Dinner and A Movie portion of the festival at The Haley House (12 Dade St, Dudley Square) The film showing is “A Road to Apartheid” – A historical document of the rise and fall of apartheid as well as a film about why many Palestinians feel they are living in an apartheid system today, and why an increasing number of people around the world agree with them. Tickets are around $27.00 and include a delicious meal (vegetarian options available!) Drinks are addition – they serve beer and wine. For tickets, click here! Film starts at 7:00pm.
Sunday, June 17th
The closing film will be “The Contradictions of Fair Hope” brought to you by A film by S. Epatha Merkerson (Known for her work as Chief Van Buren of Law and Order) and Rockell C. Metcalf. Set in rural Alabama, the film traces the development, struggles and gradual loss of tradition of one of the last remaining benevolent societies in America, known as ‘The Fair Hope Benevolent Society,’ and provides an unprecedented look at its complex and morally ambiguous world. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased here! The film will be screened at the MFA (465 Huntington Ave)
For a complete film schedule click here! For descriptions and tickets click here!
I’ll be at the festival all weekend! If you see me please do say hello!