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“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
james baldwin
The Chapel Hill Black Film festival will explore our history, honor our legacy, and celebrate the excellence that will be our future.
On February 12, 2022 The Varsity Theater will host the inaugural Chapel Hill Black Film Festival. Presented by UNC’s Black Pioneers, a group comprised of the first black students to attend the university. The Chapel Hill Black Film festival will explore our history, honor our legacy, and celebrate the excellence that will be our future.
For this inaugural celebration we are excited to bring to you three dynamic storytellers and their eye catching works. This year’s lineup is comprised of Chris Everett’s award winning film “Wilmington on Fire”, the show stopping one man tour de force that is Mike Wiley’s “Dar he: The Lynching of Emmet Till”, and the epic men’s health odyssey, “Save the Dad Bod”.
Each film will be followed by a creator led panel featuring insight into each project and the future of Black cinema in the Triangle.
This is a cultural moment that will go down in history. Are you ready?
the filmmakers
Through his performances, Wiley has introduced countless students and communities to the legacies of Emmett Till, Henry “Box” Brown and more. His recent works include a one-man play based on Tim Tyson’s memoir Blood Done Sign My Name and The Parchman Hour, an ensemble production celebrating the bravery and determination of the Freedom Riders who risked their lives to desegregate Southern interstate bus travel in 1961.
Mike Wiley has a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is the 2010 and 2014 Lehman Brady Visiting Joint Chair Professor in Documentary Studies and American Studies at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to his numerous school and community performances, he has also appeared on Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel and National Geographic Channel and has been featured in Our State magazine and on PBS’ North Carolina Now and WUNC’s The State of Things.
Christopher Everett is a Durham, NC-based producer and director of the award-winning documentary film “Wilmington on Fire.” He is the founder and president of Speller Street Films and currently works with Full Frame Documentary Film Festival as the Communications Manager. Christopher is currently filming his next two documentaries, “Wilmington on Fire: Chapter II” and “Grandmaster,” which looks at the legacy of martial arts pioneer Vic Moore.
Michael Washington is the founder and CEO of Argyle Rebel Films. A writer, director, producer, Michael believes in telling organic, personal stories that resonates with a larger audience.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Washington believes in the cinematic power of North Carolina and is working to create a full functioning film studio that prioritizes the historically disenfranchised. It is Michael’s goal to provide access, equipment, financing, marketing strategium, and distribution to those who have previously been left out of traditional storytelling.
In late July, 2021, Michael released his newest film “Save the Dad Bod: A Men’s Health Odyssey”.
the films
WILMINGTON ON FIRE
Chris Everett
DAR HE: The Lynching of Emmett Till
Mike Wiley
SAVE THE DAD BOD
Michael I. Washington
Details
Where
The historic Varsity Theater on Franklin Street will be hosting all screenings and panels during the 2022 CHBFF.
When
Doors will open 1:30 PM on Saturday February 12, 2022.
Explore our history, honor our legacy, and celebrate the excellence that will be our future.