You haven’t seen anything…until you see the marvelous films coming to the 1st International Blues Film Festival. Mississippi Action for Community Education (MACE) will co-host the affair with The Sunflower County Freedom Project, during BLUES WEEK 2007, at the Nelco Cineplex, on Hwy I Greenville, on Tuesday, September 11, 2007; the films begin at 12p.m.

1st International Blues Film Festival will be showcase an array of films, peculiar to the Mississippi Delta and address some issues that are related Blues history that make us proud; as well as, those that still present with social, political and cultural challenges. The organizers are honored to be able to present films such as, “Silence” that was written and directed by Mateen Kemet, a prominent filmmaker, who recently made it to the top six contestants competing for a million dollars, on the FOX TV series “The Lot.” Also included on the slate of films are: “The Death of Emmett Till,” by award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson; “Before the Music Dies,” featuring Erykah Badu, Bonnie Raitt and the N. Mississippi All-Stars, narrated by Forrest Whitaker; “Muddy Waters Can’t Be Satisfied,” by Robert J. Gordon of Memphis; and a West African film by Senegalese filmmaker Mamadou Seke, entitled, “Teranga Blue;” “Long Story Short” by Los Angeles filmmaker Simbi Hall; “The Legend of Black Tom” by Deron Albright; and, a shocking realization film called “Don’t Shoot the Messenger,” by London-based filmmaker Ngozi Onwurah! As an added feature, we will present a music video entitled, “KATRINA,” by Bohoflow Productions, as the segue piece between each film.

“It is truly our hope and expectation that the next generation of Blues legends will be inspired by some of these films,” stated Howard Boutte President and CEO of MACE. “Films like that of “The Death of Emmett Till” is one of particular interest to Delta in general, and to teenagers specifically,” added Lavoryette “Tae” Cannon, MACE Cultural Arts Intern and Coordinator for the 1st International Blues Film Festival. Confirmed times for the featured films are:

“The Death of Emmett Till” 12 pm
“Teranga Blues” 2:00 pm
“Legend of Black Tom” 4:00 pm
“Long Story Short” 4:20 pm
“Silence” 4:40 pm
“Shoot the Messenger” 5:30 pm.
“Before the Music Dies” 7:30 pm
“Muddy Waters Can’t Be Satisfied” 9:00 pm