The 2017 Oxford Film Festival (February 15-19) announced that Danny Glover will make a special appearance at the film festival on Friday, February 17, speaking prior to a screening of Raoul Peck’s award-winning documentary, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, to discuss the film as well as voter and worker rights in Mississippi. Glover will also be talking about the planned march in Canton, Mississippi on March 4^th.

Danny Glover has some things to say to the people of Mississippi

Melanie Addington, executive director of the Oxford Film Festival, said, “This will be a major event for the film festival and the community as Danny Glover is not only a beloved actor, known for a number of film classics, but also has long been dedicated to speaking out about the human rights and social injustice. The Oxford Film Festival has always been a much more than an occasion to see films in Mississippi, but also an active participant in the community and outspoken regarding their well being. Just as Danny doesn’t shy away from saying what needs to be said, neither does the Oxford Film Festival, and we are thrilled to provide this forum for him.”

Prior to his appearance at the Malco Theater on Friday, Glover will be on the University of MIssissippi campus, meeting with students and other interested parties at Farley Hall Auditorium, Room 202, in the heart of the campus from 5:00-6:00PM.

There will be a march in Canton, Mississippi on March 4th to support the Nissan workers. (Still from Raoul Peck’s I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO)

Glover is making the trip to Oxford to talk about voter suppression efforts and voter rights as well as about worker rights and specifically the campaign at the Nissan plant in Canton for workers to have a union election free of intimidation. This is an event that coincides with Black History Month (a large majority of the Nissan Canton workforce is African American) and the Oxford Film Festival.

Peck’s documentary, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, focuses on author James Baldwin, as he tells the story of race in modern America with his unfinished novel, Remember This House. Glover will participate in photos and interviews with the press at 6:00PM, and then speak at 6:30PM prior to the film screening at 7:00PM at the Malco Theater (204 Commonwealth Blvd.)

James Baldwin – more than just a face in the crowd (I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO)

While tickets are currently sold out for that screening, there will still be opportunities to get a seat via rush line tickets which the film festival is introducing for the first time this year. Prospective audience members can pick up a numbered rush ticket at the box office one hour before the film. Once seating is complete (10 minutes before the film) any available seats will be released to the rush line hopefuls to either use their badge to access the screen or to purchase a single ticket.

Additional information on the 2017 Oxford Film Festival can be found at oxfordfilmfest.com. Festival passes and tickets can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-oxford-film-festival-tickets-28731287053.