The Freedom Series, sponsored in part by the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission and MemphisED, gets underway Thursday, July 15, with the first of a several provocative films that address human rights issues.
Various communities around town will host the various films, and all will be followed by discussions. The organizer of the series is Indie Memphis, which says that, "By mixing cultural perspectives with the short films preceding each feature, each screening and discussion will cultivate cross-cultural compassion and demonstrate the provocative power of independent cinema."
Admission to each program is free, with a $5 minimum donation suggested to benefit the hosting organization.
Thursday's opening night movies include the short film on slavery, "The Veiled Commodity," and a fascinating documentary "Complaints Choir."
"Complaints Choir" is by the Finnish/German couple Tellervo and Oliver Kalleinen who traveled the world collecting complaints and transformed them into a song sung by the complainers. The musical venting was very well received until they arrived in humorless Singapore.
After the screening, there will be a performance of the Memphis Complaints Choir, a vocal ensemble that like the others around the world airs grievances in song. The discussion moderators will be producers of the film, Frank & Lisa Mauceri, and local journalist and filmmaker Jon W. Sparks.
Thursday's event is at 7 p.m. at Malco's Studio on the Square. More films are screened through the weekend with the series running through October.
For more information on this vital new film series, go to indiememphis.com/freedom and also see John Beifuss' blog at The Commercial Appeal, The Bloodshot Eye.
Series curator Robin Salant, a Memphis artist and Indie Memphis supporter, says that the opening weekend of the Memphis Freedom Series coincides with "Mandela Day," the international celebration of South African's leader Nelson Mandela's 92nd birthday, on July 18.
