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Showtimes
Saturday, June 15
1:00pm
Ticketing
Single Ticket
$13 /General & $10 /Members
Harlem Renaissance Double Feature
$20 /General & Members
Single Tickets
Double Feature Tickets
Festival Pass
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun, directed by Sam Pollard and written/produced by Kristy Andersen, is an illuminating documentary that captures the life and legacy of one of the most significant African American writers of the 20th century, Zora Neale Hurston.
The film takes its audience on a journey through Hurston’s eventful life, from her early years in Eatonville, Florida, to her pivotal role in the Harlem Renaissance. It delves into her works, her unique storytelling style that blended folklore with rich depictions of African American life, and her contributions to African American literature. The documentary also addresses the challenges Hurston faced, including her struggle with financial instability and her controversial viewpoints that often placed her at odds with the mainstream civil rights movement.
Through interviews with scholars, contemporaries, and excerpts from her own writings, Pollard’s film pays homage to Hurston’s indomitable spirit and enduring impact on literature and African American culture.
Screening with Claude McKay: From Harlem to Marseille in the Celebrating Two Voices of the Harlem Renaissance double feature.
Directed by Sam Pollard, Written/Produced by Kristy Andersen, 2008, 84 minutes, Documentary, USA, English
CELEBRATING TWO VOICES OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE
This program is dedicated to exploring the lives and works of two iconic figures whose voices and visions were instrumental in shaping the Harlem Renaissance, a pivotal period in American cultural history that celebrated African American cultural and artistic expression.
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun provides an intimate look at the life of Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most significant and influential writers of the last century. Known for her vibrant prose, her portrayal of African American culture in the rural South, and her seminal works like Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston was a formidable force in American literature. This film captures her spirited journey through the heights of the Harlem Renaissance to her quieter, yet impactful later years.
Claude McKay: From Harlem to Marseille tracks the extraordinary life of Claude McKay, a key literary figure in the Harlem Renaissance and a pioneering voice in modern black literature. McKay’s work ranged from militant sonnets championing the rights of black workers in America to introspective narratives of his experiences as a black man in a racially charged society. His travels from Harlem to Marseille and beyond offered him unique perspectives that influenced his prolific writing career.
Together, these films offer a profound insight into the lives of two remarkable artists who not only defined a generation but also left an indelible mark on literature and culture.
ADIFF CHICAGO 2024
The screening is a part of ADIFF Chicago 2024. Since its inception, ADIFF Chicago have presented culturally significant films that explore the Black and Indigenous experience, giving a multidimensional voice to often misrepresented realities and peoples.
