The National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC) and the New York Public Library (NYPL) are joining forces again to offer free film screenings at public library branches in Harlem. Launched this season as the Harlem Library Cinema Series, the program has been expanded from one branch to three–Countee Cullen, George Bruce and the 115th Street Branch–and will be broadcast simultaneously online.
The fall program includes three powerful documentaries selected from the “AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange” public television series: “Fighting Spirit,” “Black to Our Roots” and “Desert Bayou.”
“Fighting Spirit” follows African boxers from their home in Bukom, Ghana, across the Atlantic to match their skills against the best in global contests. In “Black to Our Roots,” an Atlanta teen travels to Ghana to explore her African heritage. “Desert Bayou” chronicles the lives of Hurricane Katrina victims airlifted to Utah, only to find themselves refugees in their own country. The films will circulate each month to a different branch.
The screenings will be held throughout November and December and followed by Q&A sessions with guest speakers, including filmmakers, community advocates and characters featured in the stories. The library series will pick up again in mid-January and continue to June 2010.
In December, the series will bring together the live and online experiences through “virtual” screenings that will be broadcast simultaneously on the Web. The virtual screenings will be hosted by NBPC Digital Media Director Christian Ugbode and include a special music mix in a lounge atmosphere prior to the screening. During the Q&A period, the live and virtual spaces will merge, and both audiences will get a chance to chat “live” with the in-branch guests and online guests.
Visitors will be able to participate in the virtual screenings at this link: http://connectpro35644792.na5.acrobat.com/librarycinemaseries/.
For all screening locations, the Music Lounge will open at 6 p.m.; screenings will start at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Q&A with guest speakers at 7:30 p.m.
The remaining screenings in the series include:
George Bruce Branch (518 West 125th Street at Amsterdam Avenue), (212) 662-9727 or george_bruce@nypl.org
“Black to Our Roots”–Wednesday, December 2
115th Street Branch (203 West 115th Street at Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.), (212) 666-393 or 115st_branch@nypl.org
“Desert Bayou”– Tuesday, December 8
Countee Cullen Branch (104 West 136th Street, near Lenox Avenue), (212) 491-2070 or countee_cullen@nypl.org
“The Fighting Spirit”–Thursday, December 17
For film synopses, filmmaker bios, trailers and downloadable stills, visit www.AfroPoP.tv.
The National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC), a national, nonprofit media arts organization, is the leading provider of Black programming on public television and the greatest resource for the training of Black media professionals within the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
NBPC develops, produces and funds television and online programming about the Black experience and, since its founding in 1979, has provided hundreds of broadcast hours documenting African-American history, culture and experiences to public television. For more on NBPC and its initiatives, visit www.nbpc.tv.