Windy City
doc committed to
reducing gun violence
screens at the
American Black
Film Festival
in Miami, June 12 – 16
The world premiere of Chicago at the Crossroad — a film by Chicago-based Schodorf Media Creative — is one of only five documentaries set to screen at the 23rd Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF).
The ABFF is a prestigious program ranked 4th in the nation by USA Today. It takes place June 12-16 in Miami.
Chicago at the Crossroad is written, produced, and directed by Emmy Award winner Brian Schodorf. It is narrated by Chicago’s own Grammy Award-winning spoken word Artist Malik Yusef, who executive produced the film with community activist Afrika Porter.
The film opens a rare historical window into the systematic creation of poverty stricken communities plagued by gun violence. Focusing on Chicago as a case study, Chicago at the Crossroad explores how we got here and what we can do today to reduce violence.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
CHICAGO AT THE CROSSROAD
“We made this film to tell the story of a past that created the present,” says Brian Schodorf. “With an overwhelming number of headlines about gun related deaths, we wanted to know why?… and we wanted to offer solutions.”
Chicago at the Crossroad will compete for the ABFF Jury Award Best Documentary prize. The winner will be announced during the “Best of ABFF” Awards, presented by Dream in Black | AT&T, on the evening of Saturday, June 15th at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
The premiere kicks off a 2019 film festival tour to share the message with the masses; striving to curb violence in America.
CREDITS: CHICAGO AT THE CROSSROAD
Written & Directed by: Brian Schodorf
Produced by: Malik Yusef, Afrika Porter, Nathan Weber, Brian Schodorf, Burundi Partlow, Randy Crumpton, Malachi Gross, Ryan Kolegas, Linda Mensch
Director of Photography: Ryan Kolegas
Principal Subject(s): Malik Yusef, Leonard GLC Harris, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Father Michael Pfleger, Arne Duncan
2019 | USA | 80 min World Premiere at ABFF
ABOUT ABFF
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community and ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. The festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event, which takes place this year June 12-16 in Miami Beach.
Send your indie updates to Reel Chicago Editor Dan Patton, dan@reelchicago.com.
