February 11, 2022  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Contact:               Karen Prasser                               Chagrin Arts Executive Director                                kprasser@chagrinarts.org                                 330.701.8513  SOLON CENTER FOR THE ARTS PRESENTS CHAGRIN ARTS FILM FEST   On Friday, February 25, Solon Center for the Arts ispleased to present the premiere of the Chagrin Arts Film Fest: An Arts With APurpose Film Experience. This event is in support of Black History Month andwill feature three films beginning at 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm in the SCA Theater.The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. RSVP Here.  The opening two feature presentations are byacclaimed documentary filmmaker and Ohio native Derrick Jones (djones). He is adoctoral student in the School of Film, Media & Theatre at Georgia StateUniversity. He also holds an MFA in film from Ohio University with a focus onindependent documentary. The first is called “631”. Members of the Jones familyoffer a history of their lives at 631 Ridge Avenue, a house purchased in the1950’s with four generations eventually living under its roof.  Through personal accounts, photos andfilm/video footage, a tapestry 50 years in the making is woven to illustratethe impact a home can have on a family’s existence.        The second djones film is called “2020AD”. Influencedby the summer of 2020 – often labeled as the United States reckoning on race –2020AD visualized the labor of engaging “the talk” while imagining analternative, more generative confrontation drawing from the archive, theancestors, and the anticipation of death in the midst of fighting for life.   The third feature film is “400: An Afrikan Epic”, adocumentary based on Dr. Mark Lomax’s 12-album cycle on Black America’s400-year history. The making of this outstanding film occupied about three anda half years of drummer and composer Lomax’s life. It traces Black America fromthe beginning of the slave trade in 1619 through today and into the futureusing a blend of classical, jazz, gospel and other music forms in solo, duo,trio, quartet and larger ensemble arrangements. The acclaimed filmmakers areJason Wood and Charles Hairston.   Following the djones films, a discussion with djonesin person will take place on the stage. Then following “400: An Afrikan Epic”,both Jason Wood and Dr. Lomax will talk with the audience. The moderator forthe evening if Dani Jauk-Ajamie from the University of Akron and a Chagrin ArtsAdvisory Board Member.    As a bonus for all who register for the Film Festonline, you will receive a link to a Documentary Screening and Live Q&A of“The Shadow of Lucasville”, another djones award0winning documentary. Meet ImamSiddique Abdullah Hasan, Lucasville riot leader, educator, writer and activistcalling live from the Ohio State Penitentiary’s death row.  ChagrinArts’ mission is to present inspiring arts programming and stimulatingconversations. Research shows that the arts have a deep, positive and healingimpact contributing to the overall enhanced quality of life for individuals andtheir communities. Chagrin Arts’ “Arts With A Purpose” aims to bring artsprogramming to enrich lives and create conversations about social issuespromoting the betterment of humanity as part of Chagrin Arts’ core values.       “The newChagrin Arts Film Fest (CAFF) is yet another way – along with Shakespeare atCommunity Park in the summer and various other programs throughout the year –that we can connect our two communities through the power of the arts,” said Karen Prasser, Executive Director of Chagrin Arts. “I’m so excited to beworking again with the City, Tracy Sullivan at SCA and Rich Parker, theRecreation Director to provide quality arts programming to the residents ofSolon and Chagrin Falls.”  Solon Center for the Arts is located at 6315 SOMCenter Road in Solon. Chagrin Arts is located at 88 N. Main Street in ChagrinFalls. For more information and to reserve your tickets, visit chagrinarts.orgor call 440.247.9700.                                                                                                                                                    ##### | | | |