EXCLUSIVE: LA’s Micheaux Film Festival has set plans to host a Black History Month mixer to raise money for Altadena families displaced by the LA wildfires.
The event will take place on February 26 at NeueHouse Hollywood and will be held in collaboration with Dr. Self Tape, an LA-based self-tape production outfit.
The fundraising goal will be $25K. The event will be hosted by comedian Aida Rodriguez (Fighting Words), and musician J Young MDK will DJ the event. It will run from 6 PM – 9 PM.
“The Micheaux Film Festival has always been about amplifying stories that matter. At this moment, storytelling fuels action and direct impact,” Noel Braham, co-founder of the Micheaux Film Festival, said in a statement. “By coming together, we’re not just raising funds we’re reaffirming that no one is left behind, especially those of color.”
The Micheaux Film Festival was launched in 2918 by Braham and Courtney L. Branch to honor the legendary Oscar Micheaux, the first major Black filmmaker in the United States. Born in 1884, Micheaux directed 44 films throughout his career. Active mainly in the early 20th century, he is best remembered now for challenging negative portrayals of African Americans in cinema by depicting genuine Black life and complex characters. Micheaux’s first feature was the now-lost black-and-white film The Homesteader. His last surviving film is The Notorious Elinor Lee (1940), starring Robert Earl Jones and Edna Mae Harris.
Last year’s Micheaux Film Festival screened projects featuring Viola Davis, Michael Ealy, Morris Chestnut, and Michael Gandolfini. The festival also honored Lil Rel Howery, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Dianne Houston.
Joseph and Joel Harold, co-founders of Dr. Self Tap, added: “In times of crisis, artists and creatives are often forced to put their dreams on hold just to survive. We refuse to let our community face these hardships alone. We want to use this benefit to help restore stability and hope so people can reclaim their lives and futures.
