Great Movies
Melissa Haizlip's acclaimed documentary, “Mr. SOUL!” will be screening for free (all 1,000 seats) at the famed Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., in New York tomorrow, Thursday, February 21st at 6:30 pm. The film chronicles the legacy of "SOUL!", the public television variety show produced and hosted by Ellis Haizlip (the director's uncle) that turned a spotlight on the Black Arts Movement represented by such timeless talents as Sidney Poitier, The Last Poets, Gladys Knight, Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin and many others. During a time period when African-Americans were not routinely featured prominently on television except in negative stereotypes, this program blazed new trails for representation during its run from 1968 through 1973.
“Mr. SOUL!” won the Best Music Documentary at the IDA Documentary Awards, the Best Feature Documentary at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival, the Audience Award for Best Feature at the AFI DOCS Film Festival in Washington, D.C., the Audience Award at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, the Meta Award at the Dallas Videofest/Docufest and made a splash at the BFI London Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival. Melissa Haizlip is a dynamic emerging filmmaker who has earned many accolades for her films, including the Chaz and Roger Ebert Producing Fellowship through PROJECT INVOLVE at the Film Independent Spirit Awards.
The movie will be presented by the Apollo Theater’s Education Program as part of its Live Wire series in collaboration with Firelight Media, Films by Firelight, A Documentary Film Series in Harlem. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Melissa Haizlip, narrator and Executive Producer Blair Underwood, Black Ivory, the iconic Carmen de Lavallade, Felipe Luciano and Sade Lythcott, with moderation provided by Jocelyn Cooper.
To RSVP for the free screening, click here.
