MFAH Virtual Films: Nationtime – Gary

Museum of Fine Arts Houston 1001 Bissonnet St, , Houston

In March 1972, an estimated 10,000 Black politicians, activists, artists, and performers congregated at the National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana. Attendees included Amiri Baraka, Dick Gregory, Isaac Hayes, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Coretta Scott King, and Bobby Seale. William Greaves (1926–2014), the established documentarian of Black history, culture and politics, directed a camera crew and captured it all. Narrated by Sidney Poitier with poetry recited by Harry Belafonte, the film was thought at the time to be too radical for television broadcast and was drastically edited. Now restored to its original length, this essential documentary reveals a rousing, at times contentious, yet undeniably significant historical event.

$10

MFAH Films Virtual Experience: AI WEIWEI: YOURS TRULY

Museum of Fine Arts Houston 1001 Bissonnet St, , Houston

In 2014, Ai Weiwei, the renowned Chinese artist and activist, assisted by curator and filmmaker Cheryl Haines, transformed the former penitentiary
on Alcatraz Island into an astonishing exhibition of socially engaged art, focusing on the plight of the unjustly incarcerated. Visitors were invited to send postcards to prisoners in the exhibition. Several of the formerly imprisoned activists, including Chelsea Manning, speak about the impact of receiving those messages of hope.

$10

MFAH Films Virtual Experience: Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed

Museum of Fine Arts Houston 1001 Bissonnet St, , Houston

Celebrate the centennial of women’s suffrage with this compelling documentary chronicling the 1972 presidential campaign of Brooklyn-based Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (1924–2005)—the first Black woman elected to Congress—who received support from many groups during her ambitious campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

$4.99

MFAH Films Virtual Experience: John Lewis: Good Trouble

Museum of Fine Arts Houston 1001 Bissonnet St, , Houston

Chronicling Georgia’s U.S. Representative John Lewis’s 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights,
gun control, health-care reform, and immigration, this new documentary explores his Alabama childhood with his family and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and also includes interviews with political leaders and Congressional colleagues.

$12

Screening of Anand Patwardhan’s film Reason

Museum of Fine Arts Houston 1001 Bissonnet St, , Houston

In this monumental documentary, veteran Indian filmmaker Anand Patwardhan explores how India’s political climate has moved dramatically away from the nonviolent teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. Organized in chapters that move from the past to the present, Reason unflinchingly chronicles the rise of right-wing extremism and recent instances of violence, yet concludes with a message of cautious optimism. The screening includes a 15-minute intermission.

Free

Special Presentation: Run Like the Devil

Museum of Fine Arts Houston 1001 Bissonnet St, , Houston

The MFAH hosts the Houston stop on the state-wide tour of this new documentary. Run Like the Devil chronicles the energetic and impassioned 2018 race for the U.S. Senate between Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas). Filmmaker Steve Mims takes a nonpartisan look at the candidates and their tireless efforts to communicate with voters across the Lone Star State. Campaign-trail interviews with Cruz and O’Rourke—interwoven with stories from political insiders including Mark McKinnon and Evan Smith—create a vivid, timely, and exhausting account of a uniquely Texan campaign.

$7 – $9