UA to Host Black Warrior Film Festival

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Black Warrior Film Festival is bringing a bit of “Scandal” to The University of Alabama.

That’s because award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay, whose work includes directing an episode of the ABC hit TV series “Scandal” this season, will be the featured filmmaker for the festival. DuVernay will screen her award-winning film, “Middle of Nowhere,” at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 12, in Lloyd Hall, room 38. She will answer questions from the audience after the presentation.

Dr. Kristen Warner, an assistant professor in UA’s telecommunication and film department, said DuVernay’s address should invigorate and challenge her audience.

“The great thing about listening to Ava speak is hearing her passion for what she does, her passion for what she envisions for the future and her passion for how she believes we all have a part to play as audiences, aspiring filmmakers and film industry professionals,” Warner said. “The perspective she offers to us as a campus is that culturally, racially, ethnically and socially we are not all the same; but that sameness has never been the goal. Loving and embracing the differences is the goal.”

Another of the festival’s speakers, Glenn Wilder, will teach a master class on stunts from 2:30-4 p.m., April 13, in 118 Graves Hall. He could be a familiar face to Tuscaloosa residents. He was one of the primary stuntmen on the film “Hooper,” which was partially shot in Tuscaloosa. That film screens at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 13, in room 118 of Graves Hall. It will be followed by a Q&A session with Wilder.

“I’m looking forward to attending the Black Warrior Film Festival and inspiring a new generation of filmmakers to always believe in yourself, follow your dreams, and always have a dream,” Wilder said. “At 80, I’m still a dreamer — go big or go home.”

Leigh Rusevlyan, festival co-director and a senior in the telecommunication and film department, said she is excited about what the visit and film screening will bring to campus.

“He’s had a very colorful career as a stuntman and performed stunts in most of your favorite movies,” Rusevlyan said. “We are bringing him to campus to expand the community’s knowledge on professional filmmaking in Hollywood.”

The Black Warrior Film Festival is possible through partnerships with Creative Campus, the College of Communication and Information Sciences, the department of telecommunication and film, department of gender and race studies, Honors College Assembly, New College, the Student Producer’s Association, The Source and University Programs. Now in its second year, the festival accepted submissions from all 14 Southeastern Conference Schools and will screen films produced by students from a number of those institutions.

For the full list of events, please go to http://www.blackwarriorfilmfest.com/thefestival/.