For Immediate Release
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Educational Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org; Donna Hardwick, Independent Television Service (ITVS), (415) 356-8383; donna.hardwick@itvs.org.
WSIU, Carbondale Public Library to Host Free Screening of Film “Tell Them We Are Rising”
Event Scheduled for Sunday, February 11 at 2:30pm
Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU Public Broadcasting, a public media service of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, the Carbondale Public Library, the Independent Television Service (ITVS), and the PBS series Independent Lens will present a free Indie Lens Pop-Up screening and discussion of the film Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities.
The event will be held on Sunday, February 11 at 2:30pm at the Carbondale Public Library, 405 West Main in Carbondale. A moderated discussion will follow the film screening.
Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities explores the pivotal role historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have played over the course of 150 years in American history, culture, and identity. This film reveals the rich history of HBCUs and the power of higher education to transform lives and advance civil rights and equality in the face of injustice.
The 90-minute program will air in its entirety on WSIU Public Television on Monday, February 19 at 8pm.
Two additional Indie Lens Pop-Up film screenings will be held this spring. Dolores, a bio-pic following the life of racial and labor activist Dolores Huerta will be screened on Sunday, March 25 at 2:30pm at the Carbondale Public Library. The final film in the series, Look & See: Wendell Berry's Kentucky will be screening at a future date.
Watch for updates from WSIU on the air, online, and in WSIU’s monthly program guide, Previews. Contact WSIU Outreach Coordinator, Beth Spezia, at (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org if you have questions.
Questions about Indie Lens Pop-Up screenings at the Carbondale Public Library should be directed to (618) 457-0345. Learn more about the community engagement series on WSIU’s local Indie Lens Pop-Up webpage at http://www.wsiu.org/indielenspopup.
About WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, and an education and community outreach department.
WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.
WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
About the Carbondale Public Library
The Carbondale Public Library provides resources and services to support the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of the Carbondale community. The library provides free services to all residents living within the city boundaries and is part of the Shawnee Library System.
About the Filmmaker
Stanley Nelson has been acknowledged as one of the preeminent documentary filmmakers of our time. He has directed and produced over twelve documentary features, including: Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, Freedom Summer, Freedom Riders, Jonestown: The Life and Death of People’s Temple and The Murder of Emmett Till.
Marco Williams is a filmmaker and a film educator. He is an Arts Professor at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, Undergraduate Department of Film and Television. His directing credits include: The Black Fives, The Undocumented, Inside the New Black Panthers; Banished; Freedom Summer; I Sit Where I Want: The Legacy of Brown v. Board of Education; MLK Boulevard: The Concrete Dream and others. Learn more about the filmmakers here.
About Indie Lens Pop-Up
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on the PBS series Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics to family and relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation. Can't attend in person? Find Independent Lens on Facebook for information on our online Pop-Up events.
About Independent Lens
Independent Lens is an Emmy® Award-winning weekly series airing on PBS on select Monday nights at 9pm CST. The acclaimed series features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by Independent Television Service, the series is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, with additional funding from PBS and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens. Join the conversation at facebook.com/independentlens and on Twitter @IndependentLens.
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