Bantam Cinema devotes week to Black History Month

BANTAM — From Feb. 17-23, Bantam Cinema & Arts Center will feature programming selected specifically to honor and celebrate Black History Month.

Programing will include screenings of the feature film “Till, His Truth Goes Marching On” by Torrington-based Culture 4 A Cause, and a program of shorts for children, “Celebrating Black Stories from the New York International Children’s Film Festival.

Till is rated PG-13 and runs 130 minutes. The film depicts how, in 1955, after Emmett Till was murdered in a brutal lynching, his mother vowed to expose the racism behind the attack while working to have those involved brought to justice. It stars Haley Bennett. Screenings at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17 and Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.

Deacon Arthur Miller of St. Mary’s Church in Simsbury and author of “The Journey to Chatham” will speak after the Sunday screening.

According to a statement, Deacon Miller was 10 years old in 1955 when his schoolmate Emmett Till, age 14, was murdered in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white woman — an incident that energized the nascent Civil Rights Movement. “The Journey to Chatham” details the historic events seen through the eyes of Emmett’s friends. Tickets are an additional $25 and available separate from the movie ticket. Patrons can attend the talk only if they choose. All attendees to the talk will receive a copy of Deacon Miller’s book.

Feb. 18 features His Truth is Marching On, which explores how music evolved in America, through the musicianship of more than a dozen Connecticut musicians. The historical backstory is woven through stanzas of “John Brown’s Body,” the song that became “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The film will be accompanied by African Drumming by Angaaza Mwando, a Harriet Tubman reenactment by Effie Mwando, and remarks by Mark McEchern of the Torrington Historical Society. The program begins at 7 p.m., runs for approximately two hours, and tickets are $15.

On Feb. 22, NYICFF Celebrating Black Stories will highlight short films for ages 9 and up that share “the joy, determination, resilience, and complexity of being young and Black,” according to a statement. The shorts explore a range of genres and styles in a program that spans the globe and are free for school groups during the day, and open to the general public that evening at 7 p.m. The run time is 76 minutes in length. Educators who would like to bring a student group can contact the cinema using the information below.

Ticket pricing for Till and the public screening of Celebrating Black Stories is $12.50 for adults, $10.50 for college and high school students, seniors 65 and over, and active military and $8.50 for children 13 and under. Tickets are available through the website or in person at the box office.

“We are excited to expand our programming, to welcome new audiences, and to partner with Culture 4 a Cause, the New York International Film Festival, and Deacon Miller,” said Executive Director Robert Kwalick. “We are very grateful to Northwest Community Bank for being a generous underwriter.”

The mission of the Bantam Cinema & Arts Center, Inc. is to preserve and operate the historic Bantam Cinema and enhance the cultural vitality of the Litchfield Hills through offering a diverse program of film, theater, music and visual arts that seeks to inspire, educate, and engage its audience.

For information, contact Kwalick at executivedirector@bantamcinema.org, call 860-361-6066, or visit www.bantamcinema.org