NEWS
JUSTICE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2024 SELECTIONS, 40TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE TO ‘BEAT STREET’, AND FOUR ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEES
12th Edition Taking Place at FIT Will Open With Tribute To The Classic 1984 Hip-Hop Film “Beat Street” Presented by Lee, And Close With Films Marking The 2-Year Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
New York, NY — February 12, 2024 — The 12th annual Justice Film Festival will take place on the campus of FIT in New York City February 21-24, 2024 with a diverse line up of feature and short films shining a light on social justice. The 1984 classic Beat Street will highlight opening night sponsored by Lee with an all-star panel that includes actors, breakdancers and rappers featured in the film including hip-hop MC “Special K”, Melle Mel & Scorpio, lead vocalist and songwriters of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, John Chardiet who plays ‘Ramon’ in the film and Tony Wave, breakdancing pioneer and documentary filmmaker . The film, produced by Harry Belafonte and David V. Picker is known for bringing hip-hop and breakdance culture to America influencing music, dance and fashion for generations since its release. The film is a wonderful example of how film can be used to break down cultural borders and bring communities together.
Academy Award® nominees for best documentary feature Bobi Wine: The People’s President from filmmakers Christopher Sharp & Moses Bwayo, and 20 Days in Mariupol, Mstyslav Chernov’s timely film about the war in Ukraine, will headline two nights, with nominees for best short documentary film Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó, and The ABC’s of Book Banning among the more than 40 films that make up the program.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this year’s program,” said Andy Peterson who is founder and creative director for Justice Film. “And we are most proud that more than 60% of our filmmakers this year are women and 40% identify as BIPOC/AAPI. As we continue to strive to create space for diverse voices from underserved communities, we are honored to lift up the next generation of justice storytellers.”
Nearly all of this year’s Justice Film Festival screenings will take place at FIT’s Katie Murphy Amphitheater, in partnership with the university’s Social Justice Center and Department of Film, Media and Performing Arts.
In addition to the program at FIT, Justice Film Festival will host “Care in Common” an evening of films in presented by Caring Across with additional support from Here to Honor. The selection of films, which will screen at DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema on Thursday February 22, will celebrate families, caregivers, disabled people, and older adults who want a better way to live, work, and age with dignity. MSNBC’s Richard Lui will emcee a panel discussion with filmmakers.
Closing the program on February 24th, the two-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, is 20 Days in Mariupol, Mstyslav Chernov’s Academy Award® nominated film about the war in Ukraine. The film will screen as part of the closing night program billed as “A Night For Ukraine”, which also features three short films centered around the invasion of Ukraine, including the world premiere of documentary short Indomitable, directed by Sonia Lowman and narrated executive produced by Sienna Miller. Musician Ben Harper created an original score for Indomitable and will take part in a Q+A with Lowman post screening led by Academy Award® nominated producer and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (An Inconvenient Truth, The Bourne Ultimatum).
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