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Black Film Series and Black Movie Hall of Fame to be Launched at the 2022 Kansas City Film Festival

Shawn Edwards, the Executive Producer of Celebration of Black Cinema (of the Critcs Choice Association), announced a collaboration between his organization and the Kansas City FilmFest International ("KCFFI") and the Boone Theater for the launch of a Black Movie Hall of Fame and a Black Film Series at the 2022 film festival at the end of March.

“KC FilmFest International is honored to be partnering with the Critics Choice Association and the Boone Theater to present Celebrate Black Cinema and the launch of the Black Movie Hall of Fame,” said Veronica Elliott Loncar, Executive Director, KC FilmFest International. “We’re excited to help bring a spotlight to and engage audiences with Black filmmakers and the stories they are bringing to the big screen.”

“The idea of a Black Movie Hall of Fame has been swimming in my head for a long time,” Shawn Edwards told RogerEbert.com about his home town. “I guess you can say it's a legacy project. We teamed up with the group revitalizing the historic Boone Theater in Kansas City to utilize the facility as the home of a Black Movie Hall of Fame. There the focus will be on the history of black film with interactive exhibits and a series of multimedia elements. It's not a museum but a space that will be dedicated to celebrating the black pioneers in front of and behind the camera that have made an impact on the cinematic landscape around the world.” Edwards is also a co-founder of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA).

“We’re happy to be a part of the festivities and announce our plans for the Black Movie Hall of Fame coming to the Boone Theater,” added Shomari Benton, Co-Owner of Vine Street Collaborative, Developers of the Boone Theater Project. “The intersection of Hollywood and Kansas City has had a long and shared history in the film industry.  And we’re thrilled to tell a side of the story that has never been told.” 

A VIP Reception and movie screening will take place Wednesday, March 30th, at B&B Theaters Mainstreet Kansas City. Detailed plans of the Black Movie Hall of Fame will be announced, along with other proposed amenities at the Boone Theater. "Hold Your Fire," Stefan Forbes' acclaimed documentary about the longest hostage siege in NYPD history, will be opening the Black Film Series with the director and producer Fab Five Freddy in attendance (it will open in theaters on May 20th). Read Brian Tallerico's review of the film here.

You can order your ticket for the Black Movie Hall of Fame Kickoff Celebration and Afterparty on Wednesday, March 30th, at this Eventbrite link (sales end on Wednesday, March 23rd). For more information, visit the official site of the Kansas City Film Festival. 

View the third annual Celebration of Black Cinema presented virtually by the Critics Choice Association on February 25th in the video embedded below.

Chaz Ebert

Chaz is the CEO of several Ebert enterprises, including the President of The Ebert Company Ltd, and of Ebert Digital LLC, Publisher of RogerEbert.com, President of Ebert Productions and Chairman of the Board of The Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation, and Co-Founder and Producer of Ebertfest, the film festival now in its 24th year.

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