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🎬 Join us for a special screening of the newly restored “Will” (1981), the groundbreaking debut film by filmmaker Jessie Maple. Presented in collaboration with the Black Film Center & Archive at Indiana University, this cinematic classic tells a moving story of redemption and resilience.
Set in Harlem, “Will” follows a recovering drug addict (Obaka Adedunyo) as he finds purpose by coaching a girls’ basketball team and mentoring a young boy at risk of addiction. Featuring Loretta Devine in her film debut and shot by Maple’s husband, Leroy Patton, the film captures both the vibrancy and struggles of Harlem in the early 1980s.
As the first independent feature film by an African American woman, “Will” broke barriers and laid the foundation for future generations of Black filmmakers. Now newly restored and recently inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry, this landmark film continues to inspire.
The screening will be introduced by Dr. Novotny Lawrence, Director, Black Film Center & Archive followed by a panel discussion featuring:
• Maya Cade, Founder, Black Film Archive
• Dr. Racquel Gates, Columbia University
• Audrey Snipes, Jessie Maple’s daughter
• E. Danielle Butler, Jessie Maple’s memoirist
Free to attend. Registration required: https://s.si.edu/3X78A3o
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Oprah Winfrey Theatre, National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Madison Dr NW, Washington, DC 20004, United States,Washington D.C.
Tickets
