Southern Circuit Independent Film Series: Minnie Evans: Draw or Die

The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers is showing at Christ Church & Carriage House in Jess Lucas Park, with three screenings spaced across the fall: Friday, September 4, Friday, October 16, and Friday, November 6. Each night starts with a reception at 6 PM, followed by the film at 7 PM. The screenings are free, and there's no RSVP, so you just show up. The room holds about 100 people, and every film is followed by a conversation with the filmmaker.

The films all lean into local culture and history. On September 4, The A Stands for Art (1 hour 12 minutes) looks at Atlanta's homegrown art renaissance, linking the city's history of resistance from the Civil Rights movement to Black Lives Matter with the creativity fueling its cultural boom. On October 16, Minnie Evans: Draw or Die (56 minutes 10 seconds) is a portrait of the self-taught artist Minnie Evans, built from archival recordings, her artwork, and the coastal landscapes that inspired her. On November 6, American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (1 hour 32 minutes) tells the story of Luis Valdez, who pushed through political resistance and industry skepticism to bring Chicano storytelling to the screen with Zoot Suit and La Bamba.

The series is part of the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, a South Arts program funded in part by South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Atlanta leg takes place at Christ Church & Carriage House, inside Jess Lucas Park at 680 S. Central Ave, Hapeville, GA 30354. Admission is free for all three dates.