The Apollo
Free Community Screening
The Apollo Theater is internationally renowned for having influenced American and pop culture more than any other entertainment venue. The space has created opportunities for new talent to be seen and has served as a launchpad for a myriad of artists including Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, Luther Vandross, Dave Chappelle, Lauryn Hill, Jimi Hendrix, and more. The Apollo covers the rich history of the storied performance space over its 85 years and follows a new production of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me as it comes to the theater’s grand stage. The creation of this vibrant multi-media stage show frames the way in which The Apollo explores the current struggle of black lives in America, the role that art plays in that struggle and the broad range of African American achievement that the Apollo Theater represents.
- When: 4:30 p.m. Jan. 26, 2020
- Where: Campus Theater
- Cost: Free screening; ticket needed to reserve seating
Get Tickets to The Apollo
True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality (2019)
Free Community Screening
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Invitational Social Justice Documentary Feature
An intimate portrait of this remarkable man, True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality follows his struggle to create greater fairness in the system and shows how racial injustice emerged, evolved and continues to threaten the country, challenging viewers to confront it.This feature documentary focuses on Stevenson’s life and career – particularly his indictment of the U.S. criminal justice system for its role in codifying modern systemic racism – and tracks the intertwined histories of slavery, lynching, segregation and mass incarceration. Highlighting watershed moments involving cases and clients, True Justice offers a rare glimpse into the human struggle that is required when the poor and people of color are wrongly condemned or unfairly sentenced, and explores the personal toll it has taken on Stevenson and his colleagues.
- Directors: Peter Kunhardt – George Kunhardt – Teddy Kunhardt
- When: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25, 2020
- Where: Campus Theater
- Cost: Free screening; ticket needed to reserve seating
- Screening with: Unrequited Dreams: An American Truth, The Call,
Get Ticket to True Justice
Cooley High (1975)
Classic 45th Anniversary
Invitational Narrative Feature
Cooley High, with its focus on the coming of age of a group of teenagers, offered a contrast to the Blaxploitation films that had arisen during the late 1960s and early ‘70s. Rather than focusing on larger-than-life protagonists and outrageous crime syndicates, Cooley High depicted the everyday lives and problems of typical urban high schoolers and their families, and helped to usher in a new type of black cinema” Taken from Academy Awards- A tribute to director Michael Schultz.
- Director:Michael Schultz
- When: 3:10 p.m. Jan. 25, 2020
- Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Theater 1, 3220 Town Center Tr, Denton, TX 76201
- Cost: Tickets are $8 for students/seniors(65+)/children and $10 for general admission
- Screening with: ExClosure, LiME,
Buy Tickets to Cooley High
Jezebel (2019)
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Invitational Narrative Feature
Jezebel is a semi-autobiographical drama film written and directed by Numa Perrier and starring actress Tiffany Tenille. The plot follows a 19-year-old girl, also named Tiffany, who begins to do sex work as a cam girl to financially support herself. Jezebel premiered at SXSW on March 9, 2019 and was selected as a “Best of SXSW” film by The Hollywood Reporter.
- Director: Numa Perrier
- When: 7:50 p.m. Jan. 24, 2020
- Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Theater 8, 3220 Town Center Tr, Denton, TX 76201
- Cost: Tickets are $8 for students/seniors(65+)/children and $10 for general admission
- Screening with: Life’s Opportunities, Seeking Woman $$$
Buy Ticket to Jezebel
Amazing Grace (2018)
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Invitational Documentary Feature
Features Aretha Franklin recording her 1972 live album of the same name. It co-stars: James Cleveland, C. L. Franklin, Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, Clara Ward, with cameos by Mick Jagger, Sydney Pollack, and Charlie Watts.
- Director: Sydney Pollack
- Producer: Alan Elliott
- When: 3:00 p.m. Jan. 26, 2020
- Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Theater 1, 3220 Town Center Tr, Denton, TX 76201
- Cost: Tickets are $8 for students/seniors(65+)/children and $10 for general admission
Buy Tickets to Amazing Grace
Sweetwater Sunday Gospel Hour featuring Cassandra Berry & Mark Graham
Come and be uplifted by their set to include an “Aretha Franklin Review”. Sweetwater’s has a full brunch buffet from 11:00-2:00 and drink specials. Learn More
Olympic Pride, American Prejudice (2016)
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Invitational Documentary Feature
In 1936, when 18 African American athletes dubbed the “black auxiliary” by Hitler participated in the Berlin Olympic Games, defying Nazi Aryan Supremacy and Jim Crow Racism, history forgot all except one, Jesse Owens. This is the story of the other 17. Their heroic collective action created a seminal moment in Civil Rights. The film follows the athletes from the attempted boycott of the 1936 Olympics to the Trials to the Games and then to the unceremonious return to America.
- Director: Deborah Riley Drape
- When: 3:00 p.m. Jan. 26, 2020
- Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Theater 1, 3220 Town Center Tr, Denton, TX 76201
- Cost: Tickets are $8 for students/seniors(65+)/children and $10 for general admission
- Screening with: Illegal Rose
Buy Ticket to OP,AP
Toni Morrison: The Pieces That I Am (2019)
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Invitational Documentary Feature
This artful and intimate meditation on the legendary storyteller examines her life, her works and the powerful themes she has confronted throughout her literary career.
- Director: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
- When: 6:50 p.m. Jan. 25, 2020
- Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Theater 8, 3220 Town Center Tr, Denton, TX 76201
- Cost: Tickets are $8 for students/seniors(65+)/children and $10 for general admission
Buy Tickets to Toni Morrison
History of Black Cinema
& Spencer Williams: Remembrances of an Early Black Film Pioneer
Invitational Documentary Features
History of Black Cinema (6min. TCM
Spencer Williams: Remembrances of an Early Black Film Pioneer
- Director: Walid Khaldi
- When: Noon, Jan. 22, 2020
- Where: UNT on the Square
- Screening with: The Black Experience in Cinema -Part 1 Free Event, Spencer Williams: Remembrances of an Early Black Film Pioneer,
Flint: The Poisoning of an American City (2019)
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Invitational Social Justice Documentary Feature
“Films like the one you are going to see tonight are so important because they won’t let people forget what is still happening in Flint. Films like this one keep Flint’s story alive and underscore that what happened in Flint isn’t an isolated tragedy. It’s happening all over our country to people who don’t have the influence and the political power to fight back. But we will fight back, and we will not stop until every single American’s right to clean drinking water is safe and secure.” –– Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland) on Flint: The Poisoning of an American City
- Director: David Barnhart
- When: 11:45 a.m. Jan. 25, 2020
- Where: Campus Theater
- Cost: Tickets are $8 for students/seniors(65+)/children and $10 for general admission
- Screening with: L’EAU EST LA VIE (WATER IS LIFE): FROM STANDING ROCK TO THE SWAMP
Buy Tickets
Follow the Drinking Gourd (2019)
Invitational Social Jusitce Documentary Feature
A feature documentary about the Black food justice movement. Family-friendly, funny and moving, this 60-minute film connects the legacy of slavery, capitalism and climate change to our fight for food security. Features: * Leah Penniman – author of “Farming While Black” * Naima Penniman – of the award-winning, spoken word duo, Climbing Poetree, recently featured on TED * Wanda Stewart – urban farmer in Berkeley, CA * Will Scott – rural farmer in Fresno, CA * Carl Anthony – environmentalist, founder of Urban Habitat * Rahanna Bisseret-Martinez – former Top Chef Junior finalist
- Director: Shirah Dedman
- When: 4:30 p.m. Jan. 24, 2020
- Where: Campus Theater
- Cost: Tickets are $8 for students/seniors(65+)/children and $10 for general admission
- Screening with: Unrequited Dreams: An American Truth, The Call,
Buy Ticket to FTDG
Invitational Short Films
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After Selma
History and continued effort to suppress the vote-
- Directors: Loki Mulholland
- When: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24, 2020
- Where: Campus Theater
Ronald McNair(2019)
Episode four in the Heroes of Color series
- Directors: David Heredia
- When: 10:00 a.m. Jan. 25, 2020
- Where: Campus Theater
We Are Witnesses-Chicago
Social Justice – Criminal Justice Stories from a variety of people
- Presented By: The Marshall Project
- When: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25, 2020
- Where: Campus Theater
- Cost: Free screening; ticket needed to reserve seating
Gentrified
Web Series – – Story of three Black millennials who quickly find themselves in an Austin they no longer recognize.
- Directors: Tia Williams
- When: 6:50 p.m. Jan. 25, 2020
- Where: Alamo Drafthouse Theater 8
Click Poster to View Trailer
Osirika-Black Champagne (2019)
Black Champagne is the first episode of an animated music video series titled “The Osirika Legacy”.
- Directors: Jeremiah Williams
- When: 3:45 p.m. Jan. 25, 2020
- Where: Alamo Drafthouse Theater 8
Unrequited Dreams- An American Truth (2019)
Focusing on the ever-gentrifying area of West Dallas
- Directors: Eboni Johnson, MFA Student @ University of North Texas–
- When: 4:30 p.m. Jan. 24, 2020
- Where: Campus Theater
Shattered Dreams (2019)
Project done in connection with the Texas Department of Transportation re: underage drinking and driving.
- Directors: Destiny McGee, Wiley College Nate Parker Film and Theater Program
- When: 4:05 p.m. Jan. 24, 2020
- Where: Campus Theater
(Intro to freelancing) 8 Essential Qualities of a successful Freelancer + 50 killer Marketing Techniques
Special Workshop – LIMITED AVAILABILITY
- Presenter: David Heredia
- When: Saturday January 25th 1:30- 3:00 pm
- Where: NCTC Classroom 109
- Cost: Pre-sale thru 1/21/2020 Adults-$20 Students $12
Tickets must be purchased in advance online or at a Box Office. Tickets will not be available day of at the venue. Senior discount is not available for this event.
(Intro to freelancing) 8 Essential Qualities of a successful Freelancer Description: Filmmakers who are looking to monetize their videography skills will get a general introduction to what it means to run a freelance business. Topics will include some of the pros and cons of the life of a freelancer, creating opportunities for yourself, identifying who your clients are and specifically what services you have to offer. Whether filmmakers pursue a side hustle, part-time or full-time endeavor. This class will also cover 8 essential habits of a successful freelance artist.
50 killer marketing techniques Description: The lifeline of any business resides in their ability to continuously market themselves and their products or services. Students will learn 51 clever ways to market themselves, products or services to prospective clients for little to no cost.
Film Screenings - Full List
What: More than 90 films – including documentaries, narratives and shorts – will be screened at the festival.
When: Jan. 22-26, 2020.
Where: Denton, Texas. Venue varies. See ticket for detail.
Cost: Tickets for individual films or film blocks (which include a series of shorts) are $8 for seniors (65 and older)/students/children and $10 for general admission. Pre-sale for discounted tickets ends Jan. 21, 2020.
Click on Film title to view trailer and/or purchase individual tickets
Purchase tickets to access individual films, film blocks or events.
Purchase passes to access to a mix of films and/or events.
What: The comedy competition spans two nights. All contestants must be 18 years or older to compete and the qualifications are simple. If a person says they are a comedian and has the $20 entry fee they can enter. The audience will let them know if they’re really a comedian or not. They’ll have 3 minutes to impress the panel of 3 judges as well as that audience. The comedians will be judged on Originality, Stage Presence and Crowd Response. Round One will allow up to 30 contestants. The field will be whittled down to 7 Finalists for Round Two, which will take place the following evening
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2019, and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2019.
Where: Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, 400 E Hickory St, Denton, TX 76201
Admission: $15 in advance/$20 at the door. Buy at https://www.prekindle.com/festivalfeature/id/530585115408594556?18.
Sign Up to Compete
About Daryl Littleton: Darryl Littleton began his professional comedy career writing sketches for “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” on CBS Radio where he created the comedy persona, “D’Militant”. Soon afterwards he became a regular at the world famous Comedy Store and landed a job as D. L. Hughley’s exclusive writer during his tenure as host of BET’s Comic View. Darryl was promoted to writer/producer and penned material for Cedric the Entertainer, Sommore and Don DC Curry. Littleton has appeared on Martin Lawrence’s 1st Amendment, Mo’Nique, Def Comedy Jam, Loco Comedy Jam, The Parent Hood, Townsend Television, Unsung Hollywood: The Jeffersons, Showtime at the Apollo, BET’s Comic View, Uptown Comedy Club, Unsung Hollywood: Wayne Brady, Byron Allen’s Comic’s Unleashed and ABC’s America’s Funniest People where he was the Grand Prize Winner. Littleton’s film credits include, Diamond Dawgs and All Lies on Me. For years Darryl Littleton toured Europe and Asia as a stand-up comedian entertaining US military troops. Upon his return he released his comedy CD, Am I Lying?!, won the prestigious Bay Area Black Comedy Competition on its 20th Anniversary, worked as a commentator for NPR and published his first book, Black Comedians on Black Comedy, is taught at USC and was adapted into the Robert Townsend directed documentary, Why We Laugh where Darryl served as executive producer. Littleton co-hosted the podcast “Tuezdae’s with D’Militant”, toured as a public speaker, produced Black & Blue: The Laff Records Collection and dropped his sophomore album Too Raw for Mainstream along with publishing six additional books: How to Be Funny: The Essential Comedy Handbook; Forefathers, Pimp Down; Comediennes: Laugh Be a Lady; Black Revenge, How To Do Stand-Up Comedy: Preserving a Dying Art Form and the satirical graphic novel, “1 Broke Activist: The Adventures of D’Militant – Mein Trump”. Darryl Littleton is a Curator for the Comedy Hall of Fame and an Emmy nominated writer for his work on the documentary, Joan Rivers: Exit Laughing. He is the VP of Talent Acquisitions for the International Cable Broadcast Station, Humor Mill-TV and in the Fall of 2019 his eagerly anticipated, This Day In Comedy: The Ethnic Encyclopedia of Laughter will be released.
What: See Grammy nominated Jazz Vocalist Jazzmeia Horn in concert with special guests Shelley Carrol and Roger Boykin Quartet.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: Margo Jones Performance Hall, Texas Woman’s University 1100 oakland street Denton, Texas
Admission: $45 for premium seating and $35 for regular seating via the discounted, pre-sale price. Buy at https://www.prekindle.com/find-tickets/id/530585115384799371?397
About: New York-based performer Jazzmeia Horn is a gifted jazz vocalist with an inventive, scat-influenced style that helped her win both the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Competition and 2015 Thelonious Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition. Following her Monk win, she released her Grammy-nominated 2017 debut album A Social Call.
Born in Dallas, Texas in 1991, Horn grew up in a creative, spiritually minded family and was first introduced to singing by her grandmother, a gospel pianist with an abiding love of jazz. Although she sang from an early age, it wasn’t until her teens and attending Dallas Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, that she developed an interest in jazz. Introduced to Sarah Vaughan by her composition class teacher, Horn fell in love with Vaughan’s style and worked to learn her phrasing and inflection. From there, she began listening to other instrumentalists, including John Coltrane and Miles Davis. After high school, she honed her skills studying at Manhattan’s New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. She already gained recognition as a formidable talent during her time in school, and took home several Down Beat student music awards. Graduating in 2009, Horn quickly immersed herself in the New York scene, performing alongside such luminaries as Billy Harper, Delfeayo Marsalis, Mike LeDonne, Peter Bernstein, Vincent Herring, and many more. Her latest release, Love and Liberation has quickly risen up the Jazz Charts and is currently Grammy nominated for Best Jazz Album.
What: Music Jam with Fingerprints and Friends! Join the Denton Black Film Festival for a special Saturday-night jam session. Hear live music from the Fingerprints featuring Quentin Moore, KAYWHT, and Katina Butler.
When: 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2020.
Where: Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial, Denton, TX 76201.
Admission: $15 in advance/$20 at the door. Buy at https://www.prekindle.com/festivalfeature/id/530585115407912481?401
” I could be angry all the time if I think too hard… Part One”
An Exhibition by Artist Vicki Meek
When: Exhibition begins Jan. 22, 2020
Admission: Free and open to the community.
Poetry Get Down and Slam
Join us at one of our most celebrated events! Whether you are a Virgin to the Mic or a Veteran looking to build your Rep, This Open Mic set followed by a Fierce Poetry Slam has it all. Fans will get to experience National level Poets along with the best Emerging Talent in North Texas. Hosted by Chicago-Born Poet Verb Kulture, who’s been featured on TV One Verses and Flow. Begins at 9p.m.
PRIZES: 1ST PLACE -$500 2ND PLACE -$250 3RD PLACE- $100
ENTRY FEE: $25 SIGN UP NOW – ONLY SPACE FOR 12 PARTICIPANTS
CONTACT: FREDERICK NICHELSON – nichelsonent@gmail.com
What: Amateurs and pros alike take the mic in our Spoken Word event.Admission: $15 in advance/$20 at the door. Buy at https://www.prekindle.com/festivalfeature/id/530585115407915267?14.