As the nation prepares to challenge democracy in the upcoming midterm elections, the March On! Festival is preparing to explore the tie between democracy and civil rights with its return to D.C. Sept. 29 to Oct. 6.
More than a tradition, this year’s affair commemorates the nation’s semiquincentennial with the theme “250 Years of Democracy: The Unfinished Story,” opening a deeper dialogue about democracy and civil rights through film, music and collective insight.
“The nation we see today would not be possible without the blood, sweat and tears of our civil rights advocates and activists,” March On! Artistic Director Isisara Bey said in a press release. “This year, we are honoring the legacy of the untold heroes of the Civil Rights Movement, and their work to ensure our democracy continues for the next 250 years.”
Launched in 2013, the annual affair serves as the nation’s longest-running Civil Rights Film Festival.
The festival will begin on Sept. 29 with the Annual Opening Night Awards Gala, where the John Robert Lewis Legacy Award will be presented to the National Urban League President (NUL) and NUL President Marc Morial, and the March On! Award will be presented to Senator Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE).
The remainder of the festival will include a screening of documentary “The Lorraine” by filmmaker Sam Pollard, a showcase of student and emerging filmmakers, and civil rights-centered conversations on immigration, allyship and collective action.
For more information about the festival, go to marchonfest.org.
