CLEVELAND, Miss. — From September through November, the Bologna Performing Arts Center (BPAC) at Delta State University will present three Southern Circuit Documentary films. All films are free and will show on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in the BPAC Recital Hall. All screenings are open to the public as well as the DSU community.
The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers connects documentary filmmakers and their impactful work with audiences throughout the South. The BPAC is one of 21 selected Southern communities and one of only two Mississippi Screening Partners for the 2023 Fall Southern Circuit Tour.
Cade Holder, Director of Marketing and Patron Services for the BPAC said, “We’re so excited to be one of the only venues in the state to showcase these films on the Southern Circuit. Every film involves southerners of all sorts, and the topics are so expansive.”
Along with a screening of the film, the filmmakers are made available to the local community for workshops and discussions. The filmmakers also conduct a Q&A with audiences immediately following the film screening to discuss the film, its subject, and their work. Holly Senter, Arts Education Director said, “We’re especially excited to partner with university and community groups to connect audiences with the filmmakers, and those plans are currently in the works for the rest of the school year.”
Kicking off the series on September 12 is One Pint at a Time, a film that delves into the billion-dollar craft beer industry in America. Despite beer’s Egyptian and African heritage, these traditions have been mostly forgotten and are rarely found in American brewing culture. Today, Black-owned breweries make up less than 1% of the nearly 9,000 breweries in operation. Eager to shift the historical perception of who makes and drinks beer, Black brewers, brand owners and influencers across the country are reshaping the craft beer industry and the future of America’s favorite adult beverage.
The second film in the series is The Only Doctor, a contemporary story of rural healthcare in the United States. Scheduled for October 17, the film centers on Dr. Karen Kinsell, who for nearly 20 years has been the only doctor in a Southwest Georgia county. The film begins when Dr. Kinsell comes to the realization that she can no longer afford to full-time volunteer as the only doctor in rural Clay County, Georgia. But ever committed to her community, she looks to forge a partnership with a medical university in order to keep her clinic open. After several options, a possibility emerges and so does disappointment. Then the pandemic creates new challenges, but also opportunities and new decisions.
Rounding out the fall series is Little Satchmo, slated for November 7. The documentary focuses on the iconic Louis Armstrong–a symbol of musical genius, unparalleled success, and unassailable character. To Sharon, he was simply Dad. Armstrong’s wholesome, non-threatening image preserved his singular career as a black performer with unfettered access to a white man’s world. Yet he was more than a caricature. In private, he held tightly to the things he loved. Perhaps closest to his heart was a child whom he hid from the world: a daughter sworn to a life of secrecy until now.
For more information on the films, contact the BPAC ticket office at 662-846-4626, or visit bolognapac.com. Southern Circuit screenings are funded in part by a grant from South Arts, a regional arts organization, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information about Southern Circuit, please visit www.southarts.org/southerncircuit.
