Classic Black Film Festival Continues at the Tivoli

The Classic Black Film Festival continues this month at the . The festival, presented by the St. Louis Black Film Festival, coincides with Black History Month and features some of the most important Black films from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Each Thursday features screenings for two separate films which offer film buffs an opportunity to see a very deep cross section of dramas, musicals and comedies showcasing the finest directors, actors and script writers in African American cinema.

Screenings are at 5 and 7 p.m. each Thursday in February.

Feb 9

• 5 p.m. Carmen Jones
• 7 p.m. Car Wash

Feb. 16

• 5 p.m. Imitation of Life
• 7 p.m. Cooley High

Feb. 23

• 5 p.m. A Raisin In the Sun
• 7 p.m. Superfly

The films selected represent a cross section of African American popular culture. The Festival opened last Thursday with screenings of Stormy Weather and Shaft.

The films selected in this year’s festival all made an impact on America’s cinematic popular culture by reflecting the culture of African Americans from the 50s to the 70s.

The Classic Black Film Festival is a labor of love for James ‘The Movie Man’ Thomas, a local film critic who works all year long to make St. Louis a place for people, particularly in the Midwest, to see African American Film. He spent the last four months organizing and planning this year’s Classic Black Film Festival.

When asked about support for the Classic Black Film Festival Thomas emphasized how move lovers in University City have gotten involved.

“Businesses have supported it through sponsorships and the community in attending the movies,” he said.

Of the films screened this month Thomas lists 1975’s Cooley High as his personal favorite. The other films in the series were selected based on time period and popularity. Despite being African American films, many of these films (like Shaft, Superfly or Stormy Weather) went on to achieve success and acclaim with white audiences, helping to break down barriers for minority filmmakers and performers.

The St. Louis Black Film Festival opens in July and offers a variety of programs including videos, animated shorts, short films, documentaries and feature films from both local and regional African American filmmakers. This local organization serves both as a forum and an advocate for film and video production in the state of Missouri. The St. Louis Black Film Festival is an annual cinematic event that seeks to introduce the best films and videos from the surrounding area to a culturally diverse audience of moviegoers.

Because the Midwest does not offer very many viable Black Film festivals both of these local festivals are significant because they serve as a platform for African American filmmakers to get their films seen by a wider audience. By fostering an appreciation in African American cinema they also offer film fans a chance to see some films they may otherwise have overlooked.

Tickets for the The Classic Black Film Festival are $9 for each film and are available for purchase at the Tivoli box office. For more information call (314) 995-6270.