Podtalk: David Weathersby of ‘The District’ at 26th Black Harvest Film Fest, thru Nov. 30, 2020

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CHICAGO – On Friday, November 6th, 2020, the 26th edition of Chicago’s Black Harvest Film Festival (BHFF) opened for online and virtual access. The BHFF is one of the country’s most prestigious black-oriented film celebrations in the country, and will run throughout the month of November until Monday the 30th.

Presented through the Gene Siskel Film Center, the 26th BHFF will screen most of their feature films and shorts programs through virtual access, as well as an array of panels and workshops to participate in. For all the information, including ticketing and special events, Click on 26th Black Harvest Film Festival.

’The District Part 1,’ Directed by David Weathersby, at 26th BHFF
Photo credit: Black Harvest Film Festival

Contained in the Shorts Program: Voices of Our Times (available beginning November 10th) is the film “The District Part 1.” This unique and stylish animated documentary is part of an anticipated larger project, and follows the voice of a 1980s black cop in the Chicago Police Department, during a time of change.

“The District Part 1” is directed by veteran filmmaker David Weathersby, the founder of City Vanguard, an arts organization that helps independent filmmakers create community-based documentaries for educational and cultural institutions. His past projects have appeared on WTTW PBS Chicago, The African Channel, and various film festivals including previous Black Harvest screenings. He is currently fundraising to expand his animated film to a longer documentary. Click here for details.

In a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, director/producer David Weathersby talks about “The District Part 1” and the larger issues behind its story.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com