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Free State Festival will focus on films, activism this year
Los Angeles-based band Chicano Batman will perform as part of the Free State Festival this Thursday after a screening of documentary "Dolores."
▶ COURTNEY BIERMAN
@courtbierman
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The Free State Festival is returning to its roots.
The Lawrence Arts Center's annual festival almost didn't happen this year due to reduced funding. Rather than cancel the festival altogether, curator Marlo Angell decided to trim programming to be more film-centric, a nod to the festival's short film origins.
"We decided it would be a wonderful year to go back to our film-centric roots and to really explore what was part of the festival in its origination," she said.
Fewer films will be a part of the festival's programming this year, and there won't be a free outdoor concert like at previous festivals. But attendees will still be able to experience a full week of film (both locally and nationally made), comedy, music and ideas.
The festival will kick off this Tuesday with a showing of the documentary "Whose Streets," which examines the Ferguson, Missouri, uprising, at Liberty Hall. A community discussion moderated by Rev. Verdell Taylor of St. Luke A.M.E. with African American studies professor Clarence Lang and activist Jamala Rogers will follow the screening.
Activism is a theme of this year's festival. A number of films and discussions will be centered on themes of social justice and community resistance, including "Dolores," a documentary about labor rights leader Dolores Huerta that will screen this Thursday, followed by a free concert with Los Angeles-based band Chicano Batman.
"This year it was kind of organic that the programming solidified around that theme," Angell said. "It's just kind of the times that we're in. We're in a time in our history that people are wanting to become more engaged politically, and also just in their communities. They're wanting to step up, they're wanting to dialogue, and they're wanting a platform to discuss what's
We decided it would be a wonderful year to go back to our film centric roots and to really explore what was part of the festival in its origination."
Marlo Angell Festival curator
on their mind, and that's why this year's program was really geared toward activism."
Festival goers are also invited to attend daily "Happy Hour Salons" at downtown area restaurants to discuss the day's programming.
Free State Film Festival board member and University lecturer Laura Kirk will moderate a discussion on Wednesday about women in comedy Five Bar and Tables. A performance by Comedy
Central comedian and University graduate Nikki Glaser will follow.
Each film's screening will be followed by a community discussion featuring festival visitors and Lawrence residents who are knowledgeable about this film's subject matter. In the cases of "The Tree," "Lane 1974," the filmmakers will be on hand to answer questions after the screening.
"I think it's really important to see films in audiences,"
Kirk said. "I know that's not the trend now, but I think it's important, especially with topical films, that we see them together and talk about them."
The Free State Film Festival will start this Tuesday, June 27, and go until July 2. Tickets for each event are available on the Free State Festival website, freestatefestival.org, where a full schedule of programming is available as well.