Lipscomb University hosts the Justice Film Festival Sept. 11-12
Lacey Klotz |
The Lipscomb University College of Entertainment & the Arts, along with Nashville-based marketing agency Different Drummer and Lipscomb’s HumanDocs series, present the Justice Film Festival, a two-day film festival that will bring short and feature films devoted to the inspiring stories of vulnerable and oppressed people worldwide to campus, Sept. 11-12.
The festival will be held in Lipscomb’s Shamblin Theatre and is a platform for conversation and connection amongst students, nonprofit leaders, social entrepreneurs and justice-minded individuals.
Since 2013, the Justice Film Festival has made stops in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Chicago, and will make its first stop in Nashville this fall.
Nashville, a city that carries a deep appreciation for the arts, is not foreign to film festivals, hosting the Nashville Film Festival annually. However, the Justice Film Festival will create a new and eye-opening awareness to social justice issues, through the art of cinematography.
Founded by Andy Peterson, president of Different Drummer, the Justice Film Festival brings real humanitarian issues to the surface with documentaries from some of today’s leading filmmakers and directors.
“We are bringing award-winning films that have played at some of the most prestigious film festivals in the world to Nashville and introducing perspectives on topics that may inspire some new conversations among students at Lipscomb,” Peterson explained.
Different Drummer is also responsible for curating all films selected for the Justice Film Festival, and have a hand in all aspects of planning and executing the event.
Steve Taylor, Lipscomb’s filmmaker-in-residence and long-time friend of Peterson, also aided Different Drummer in selecting the films that would be shown at the two-day festival.
“Working in this industry, you see a lot of good and worthwhile movies that haven’t yet hit the public’s radar,” Taylor said. “The Justice Film Festival shines its spotlight on human-scale stories told by bright and talented filmmakers who combine their passion for justice with expert storytelling.”
With more than 50 Lipscomb students in both the undergrad and graduate filmmaking programs, Taylor also explained what a unique and educational opportunity this is for Lipscomb students and community members alike.
Christy Sasi, a second-year graduate student at Lipscomb, is working towards a master’s degree in fine arts in writing and directing film after leaving her home in India to study film in Nashville. She explained how she admires the Justice Film Festival and the humanitarian heart it has.
“Generally when people think about film, they think about entertainment,” Sasi said. “However, this genre unmasks delicate topics and social-justice issues that our society may not necessarily see. It is inspiring how these filmmakers show another side of life throughout their vision and talent.”
HumanDocs, a series of social-justice documentaries hosted by Lipscomb’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, is also co-sponsoring the Justice Film Festival. Ted Parks, co-curator of HumanDocs series, explained how opportunities like this raise awareness and help to continue growth within today’s society and on Lipscomb’s campus.
“HumanDocs is honored to partner with university and local entertainment leaders on the Justice Film Festival,” said Parks. “HumanDocs is about the open, free spirit of critical inquiry that characterizes the humanities. Those of us who work with HumanDocs welcome diverse viewpoints. We believe that respectful conversation about sometimes difficult issues helps students grow intellectually and as people.”
The Justice Film Festival is a collection of short and feature films. There will be four short films and five feature films that all touch on important topics that are both relevant and alarming to today’s society.
Filmmakers from select films will also be present for Q&A sessions about their films screen.
As an aspiring filmmaker, Christy Sasi says she is grateful for the opportunity to meet and talk with some of today’s brightest filmmakers at the Justice Film Festival.
“I have a background working with films like these and I am excited to get to go and see the films, and more importantly to get to talk with filmmakers about what their view and perspective was when making their film.”
The Justice Film Festival features films made in a variety of countries including the United States, Guatemala, Uganda and Paraguay.
Although this is a ticketed event, it is free for all Lipscomb students who register online using the promo code LipscombStudent2015 and show their ID at the door. The feature film “Selma” is schedule for Friday, Sept. 11 at 9:30 p.m. and is the only showing that is free to the public.
JUSTICE FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY:
7:00-7:30 p.m. Aullido
7:30-9:00 p.m. Landfill Harmonic
9:30-11:30 p.m. Selma **free to the public
SATURDAY:
10:00-11:15 a.m. Imba Means Sing
11:15 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Among the Discarded
12:00-12:15 p.m. Q&A with director Trent Soto
1:30-2:00 p.m. Keynote
2:00-2:30 p.m. Code Oakland
2:30-4:00 p.m. Poverty, Inc
4:00-5:00 p.m. Roundtable/Panel
7:30-9:00 p.m. (Dis)Honesty — The Truth About Lies
9:00-9:30 p.m. Q&A with director Yael Melamede
To find out more about the Justice Film Festival and to register please click HERE