Next week, Wilmington--along with seven other locations across the state--will begin hosting a new documentary film series. Its founders—the North Carolina NAACP and Wilmington-based nonprofit Working Films—have coined the summer-long initiative Moral Movies. Its four monthly features are intended to highlight hot-button state issues--and jump-start community dialog.
The series’ film selections--which touch on topics spanning public education, race relations and voting rights—will air simultaneously across the state. Locally, the Black Arts Alliance is helping Working Films to coordinate screenings. Charlon Turner, Alliance vice president, notes that for many citizens, it’s difficult to keep up with the past year’s slew of new legislative policy. She says that in an increasingly visual and immediate society, film presents the most efficient medium through which to communicate these changes.
"I think it’s a great tool to teach and educate society about what’s going on. Everyone’s not going to pick up a book and read about it. You know, we read the newspaper less and less. Nonfiction film brings the opportunity to document what’s going on, look at the different views of the people that are involved, and allow people to make their own decisions."
According to Turner, Moral Movies is a nonpartisan initiative. Following each screening, community members will lead discussions, and show citizens how they can get involved.
***The following Moral Movies screenings are free and open to the public:
American Teacher: Thursday, April 24th, 7pm (Presented by tACT and the NC Association of Educators)
Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S. 17th St. Wilmington, NC 28412
American Winter: Thursday, May 29th, 7pm (Presented by NC AFL-CIO)
Hannah Block Community Arts Center, 120 S 2nd St. Wilmington, NC 28401
Freedom Summer: Tuesday, June 24th, 7pm (Presented by Democracy NC)
New Beginning Christian Church, 3120 Alex Trask Dr. Castle Hayne, NC 28429
Inequality for All: Thursday, July 31st, 7pm (Presented by NC Justice Center)
Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S. 17th St. Wilmington, NC 28412