Free events at Freep Film Festival geared toward local filmmaking community

Detroit Free Press
·3 min read

Each year, Freep Film Festival presents a number of free educational events that are designed to bolster the local filmmaking community. Here's a rundown of what's in store in 2024.

Works-In-Progress

Directors of two in-production documentaries will be on hand to show off short samples of their work at this year’s Works-in-Progress event. At this free event, the filmmakers will talk about their films while showing clips of the in-process docs. They will then receive feedback from a panel of documentary filmmakers and producers.

“Armor” explores Detroit's history of military manufacturing and its unintended consequences. The film is directed by Ted Houser.

"Introducing...Marcus Belgrave" tells the story of legendary jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave and will be featured in this year's Works-in-Progress event at Freep Film Festival.
"Introducing...Marcus Belgrave" tells the story of legendary jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave and will be featured in this year's Works-in-Progress event at Freep Film Festival.

“Introducing...Marcus Belgrave” shares the story of legendary trumpeter Marcus Belgrave and his extraordinary legacy. The film is directed by Timashion Jones.

11 a.m. Sat., April 13, Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Free. Reserve a spot at freepfilmfestival.com.

Filmmaking Collectives: A Collaborative Approach

"On the Battlefield" is a short film in which a sound recordist walks through the flat fields where once stood Pyramid Courts - the housing projects that formed the heart of the Black community of his hometown, Cairo.
"On the Battlefield" is a short film in which a sound recordist walks through the flat fields where once stood Pyramid Courts - the housing projects that formed the heart of the Black community of his hometown, Cairo.

Filmmaking is still often spoken of in auteurist terms – as the effort and vision of an individual director. And yet, the effort required to make a film usually requires many people. What does it mean to embrace the strengths of collectivity, and what different models exist for doing so? This event will feature Lisa Marie Malloy and Ray Whitaker of the Little Egypt Collective, whose film "On the Battlefield" is featured in 2024 festival program "Shorts #1: The Camera's Eye"; Kevin Steen, co-founder of Rathaus, a production company with offices in Detroit and Brooklyn; and Paige Wood, filmmaker and longtime collaborator of Detroit Narrative Agency (DNA).

The panel will be followed by a mixer with complimentary drinks and snacks.

2 p.m. Sat., April 13, Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval Ave., Detroit. Free. Reserve a spot at freepfilmfestival.com.

MENASA Filmmakers Panel 

MENASA is a term for those from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, and is used to draw lines of solidarity not only between people born in those regions, but also those with shared cultural backgrounds living elsewhere. In a world increasingly hostile to difference — particularly one in which the persecution of Muslims and Arabs ranges from dehumanization to outright genocide — what does it mean to make art as part of a diaspora? Razi Jafri, curator of Freep’s AAPI (Asian American & Pacific Islander) film series and producer of this year’s Opening Night film "Rouge" will lead a panel discussion with four filmmakers whose work features in this year’s festival, and who each straddle identities as diasporic American filmmakers: Shiraz Ahmed ("The Safety Net"), Jude Chehab ("Q"), Ash Goh Hua ("The Feeling of Being Close To You") and Hamoody Jaafar ("Rouge").

The panel will be followed by a mixer with complimentary drinks.

(Left to Right)Razi Jafri hosts a Q&A with directors of the film "In Search of Bengali Harlem" Alaudin Ullah and Vivek Bald at the Detroit Historical Museum on April 28, 2023.
(Left to Right)Razi Jafri hosts a Q&A with directors of the film "In Search of Bengali Harlem" Alaudin Ullah and Vivek Bald at the Detroit Historical Museum on April 28, 2023.

Noon Sun., April 14, Ghost Light, 2314 Caniff St., Hamtramck. Free. Reserve a spot at freepfilmfestival.com.

Festival After Party

Here's a great opportunity to do a little informal socializing after catching a movie. Freep Film Festival is partnering with two cool local venues on casual events designed to connect attendees with filmmakers and festival staffers. There is no charge for admission.

Kiesling is a cozy bar in a cool corner building with a patio, fireplace, and a rich history in Detroit's Milwaukee Junction neighborhood.
Kiesling is a cozy bar in a cool corner building with a patio, fireplace, and a rich history in Detroit's Milwaukee Junction neighborhood.

Kiesling, 449 E. Milwaukee Ave, Detroit: Located in Detroit's Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, Kiesling is a cozy bar in a cool corner building with a patio, fireplace, and a rich history. With murals dating to the early 20th century when this bar served the workers at Ford’s Model T plant, this reimagined space serves beer, wine, and creative craft cocktails. Last year, Kiesling was the only Michigan cocktail bar to be nominated as one of the Top 30 Cocktail Bars in the United States from Tales of the Cocktail. Kiesling will offer a special discounted cocktail to welcome anyone with a festival ticket stub or pass. 8 p.m.-midnight Thursday, April 11.

Community members gather during the Meet the Programmers event for the 2022 Freep Film Festival at Two Birds in Detroit on Thursday, April 29, 2022.
Community members gather during the Meet the Programmers event for the 2022 Freep Film Festival at Two Birds in Detroit on Thursday, April 29, 2022.

Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval Ave, Detroit: This neighborhood bar located in Detroit's West Village neighborhood doubles as a custard shop. It features indoor seating and an outdoor patio, and there are also a food pop-up on the premises. Two Birds will offer 20% off drinks to anyone with a festival ticket stub or pass (excludes custard and full bottles of wine). 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday, April 13.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Freep Film Festival 2024: Free filmmaking events

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