Bailey Hall Launches Film Series in September “Agents of Change” Chronicles Emergence of Black Studies Programs in Higher Education

Davie, FL (August 22, 2016) – The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, a program of South Arts, will be one of the arts season highlights as Bailey Hall brings the best of independent film to South Florida. The six-film series, featuring post-screening Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, begins with the award-winning documentary Agents of Change on Thursday, September 8 at 7:30 p.m. Co-director Frank Dawson will discuss the film and his work.

Agents of Change portrays the struggle for a more relevant and meaningful education, including demands for black and ethnic studies programs during the 1960s. From the well-publicized events at San Francisco State in 1968, to the image of black students with guns during the student union takeover at Cornell University in 1969, reform became a clarion call across the country.

“Bailey Hall is proud to be a screening partner of the Southern Circuit Tour,” said Dr. Dan Barnard, associate dean of cultural affairs and director of Bailey Hall. “Agents of Change vividly recreates an important part of the struggle for social justice, which continues to resonate today when viewed in context with the Black Lives Matter movement.”

Agents of Change took home both the Jury Award and Audience Award for “Best Feature Documentary” at the 2016 Pan African Film Festival.

Dawson earned his undergraduate degree at Cornell University and is a former media executive and producer for NBC Universal and CBS Television Network.  His co-director, Abby Ginzberg, also graduated from Cornell and is an award-winning documentary filmmaker focusing on subjects such as race and social justice. 

Southern Circuit screenings are funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. South Arts, founded in 1975, is a nonprofit regional arts organization building on the South's unique heritage and enhancing the public value of the arts. Its work responds to the arts environment and cultural trends with a regional perspective, through an annual portfolio of activities designed to address the role of the arts in impacting the issues important to the region and linking the South with the nation and the world through the arts.

The film series continues with Donald Cried (Oct. 6), NUTS! (Nov. 10), Shake ‘Em on Down (Feb. 16), Some Beasts (March 30) and Hunky Dory (April 20). 

Tickets are available for $6-16 and full film series packages range from $50-$75. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.baileyhall.org or contacting the Bailey Hall box office at (954) 201-6884. The box office and phone lines are open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and two hours prior to an event.

The flagship venue of Broward College, Bailey Hall is located on the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus at 3501 Davie Rd. in Davie and offers free parking.

ABOUT BAILEY HALL:

Bailey Hall offers Broward College students, faculty and the South Florida community with highest quality cultural entertainment and programming which is hip, smart, engaging, and authentic. The College uses its various music, theater, and film series to incorporate an academic component for its fine arts and visual arts students through master classes, workshops and participation. Recently, Bailey Hall underwent a $5.6 million renovation to improve the experience, sound and atmosphere.

Brief:  Bailey Hall presents the award-winning documentary Agents of Change on Thursday, September 8 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a post-screening Q & A with co-director Frank Dawson. Agents of Change portrays the struggle for a more relevant and meaningful education, including demands for black and ethnic studies programs during the 1960s. From the well-publicized events at San Francisco State in 1968, to the image of black students with guns during the student union takeover at Cornell University in 1969, reform became a clarion call across the country. The film is presented as part of The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, a program of South Arts. Tickets are available for $6-16 and can be purchased by visiting www.baileyhall.org or contacting the Bailey Hall box office at (954) 201-6884. The box office and phone lines are open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and two hours prior to an event. The flagship venue of Broward College, Bailey Hall is located on the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus at 3501 Davie Rd. in Davie and offers free parking.