The Cabot To Host Amplifying Voices: A Celebration of Diversity in Film

The Cabot in partnership with the North Shore Juneteenth Association, Montserrat College of Art, Salem State University, City of Beverly, and Endicott College, is hosting an exciting new film event entitled “Amplifying Voices: A Celebration of Diversity in Film,” that will be held at the theater on February 3-4. 

This two-day film event aims to spark new ways of thinking, prompt conversations, and create empathy and understanding as the audience undergoes, through cinematic storytelling, an experience outside of their own.

With films curated by Cinefest Latino Boston and The Roxbury International Film Festival, the film event seeks to build an understanding for audiences on the North Shore of Boston through the theme of “lived experiences” as told by filmmakers of diverse backgrounds. The festival will feature an opening reception followed by a feature film screening and Q&A. The second day will feature a themed program of short films, followed by a second feature film screening, with a Q&A and closing reception. Lisa Simmons, Director of the Roxbury International Film Festival (RoxFilm) and The Color of Film Collaborative (TOCF), will serve as moderator on Friday; Sabrina Avilés, founder of CineFest Latino Boston, will moderate on Saturday.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring a new annual tradition to Beverly,” said J. Casey Soward, Executive Director of The Cabot. “This film festival will bring new perspectives to our community and will hopefully spur important conversations about understanding, all surrounded by our   common love of film. We also could not be more grateful to our partners who helped bring this event to life, who are committed to helping enrich the arts scene on the North Shore.”

The event is sponsored by Essex County Community Foundation, Cell Signaling Technology and Endicott College.

$5 discounted tickets available for students, seniors and EBT Card to Culture cardholders. For more information, including tickets and schedule, please visit: thecabot.org/event/amplifying-voices 

The event schedule is as follows:

Friday, February 3 at 7PM: Feature Film and Opening Reception

The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show 
Documentary, directed by Yoruba Richen, USA

“The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show” tells this story through contemporary interviews with Belafonte, Whoopi Goldberg, Questlove and many others. The interviews with Dr. King and Robert F. Kennedy are among their last television appearances before both were assassinated.

Saturday, February 4 at 4PM: Shorts Series: A Slice of History – Q&A with Jenny Alexander to follow

Strike For Freedom: Frederick Douglass in Scotland
Directed by Parisa Urquhart, Scotland
Frederick Douglass, a world-renowned author, orator and activist had a major impact on Scotland. His lifelong mission was to ‘tell the story of the slave’ and when he fled to the UK after exposing his slaveholders’ name and deeds, he fell in love with Scotland and the Scots fell in love with him.

When I Get Grown: Reflections of a Freedom Rider
Directed by Chris Preitauer, USA
Trauma experienced by a seven-year-old sets him on a course to become a civil rights legend and change the course of a nation.

A Call to Action: the Freedom Budget of 1966
Directed by Jenny Alexander, USA
“A Call to Action: The Freedom Budget of 1966” tells the story of a little known grassroots push for guaranteed income during the civil rights movement.

The Significance of Sidney: A Black Film Mini Lecture
Directed by Mike Dennis, USA
Film historian Charles Woods shares his insights on the career of pioneering actor Sidney Poitier.

Saturday, February 4 at 7PM: Feature Film and Closing Reception – Q&A with Omar Sosa to follow

Omar Sosa’s: 88 Well-Tuned Drums
Documentary, directed by Soren Sorenson, USA
“Omar Sosa’s 88 Well-Tuned Drums” is a feature-length documentary film on the life and music of Cuba-born pianist and composer, Omar Sosa (b. 1965).