Film screening: "Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project"

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026 at 07:00 pm UTC-04:00

135 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203-1011, United States | Albany

New York State Writers Institute
Publisher/HostNew York State Writers Institute
Film screening: "Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project"
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This acclaimed documentary follows the life of beloved American poet Nikki Giovanni — firebrand, radical, healer, sage — across the turbulent 20th and early 21st centuries, from the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter.
Giovanni reckons with the inevitable passing of time in intimate vérité and revealing archival footage. The film is a collision of memories, moments in American history, live readings, and visually innovative treatments of her poetry.

The film won both a Primetime Emmy and the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.
7 p.m. Friday, March 13
Page Hall - University at Albany Downtown Campus
135 Western Avenue, Albany NY 12203
Free and open to the public.
(United States, 2023, 102 minutes, color)
Directed by Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson. Starring Nikki Giovanni, Taraji P. Henson, James Baldwin
Reviews
"Where Going to Mars undoubtedly succeeds is in spotlighting the poet’s blazing personality, her unwavering confidence and her commitment to community without ever sacrificing herself."-- Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter

"Going to Mars responds creatively to the call of its ingenious subject thanks to the directors’ soulful grasp of her work, and Terra Long and Lawrence Jackman’s skillful editing." -- Lisa Kennedy, Variety
Meet trailblazing filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson at the Albany Film Festival on Saturday, March 28th. Brewster and Stephenson are cofounders of Rada Studio, a production company that foregrounds the stories of communities neglected by the mainstream media.
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