COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 30, 2015) – The Nickelodeon, South Carolina’s only non-profit art house film theater, will host “Blaktastik,” a three-day film, music, education and art festival celebrating contemporary Black creative culture, July 24-26, 2015, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The festival will explore how young Black voices are redefining Black culture with new, creative ways of making film, music and art. Blaktastik will feature six films, a high school film workshop and Instagram competition, an art exhibition, free concert and a college filmmaker workshop with Time Spent NYC, the festival’s Artist in Residence.

“The films and events we’ve curated take a close look at Black creative culture,” said Sherard Duvall, festival coordinator. “The festival is the culmination of a lot of thought and planning and our lineup of events is another illustration of how the Nick is thinking outside of the box when it comes to bringing interesting, thought-provoking programming and opportunities to our community.”

Blaktastik Film

Six film screenings ranging from new and classic narratives to in-depth documentaries highlight innovative projects that showcase the future of African-American Cinema. Festival films will explore how this generation is taking a unique look at contemporary, alternative Black culture, and how we are redefining Blackness using innovative filmmaking techniques. Blaktastik gives the public an opportunity to see and experience alternatives to popular notions of Black life portrayed in mainstream film.

Blaktastik Music

A pillar of South Carolina music, FatRat Da Czar will curate the festival’s music culminating in a free, all-ages concert Saturday night, July 25, on the State House grounds. Festival attendees will experience alternative Black culture through hip-hop, funk, rock and more.

Blaktastik Media Education

A student film workshop and Instagram competition will bring 60 high school students to the festival to express their view of Black culture through film. The festival will arm students with cameras, keyboards, sound recorders and ink to curate original content for their short films. Blaktastik will screen the films on Sunday, July 26 in a free screening.

Blaktastik Art

“Searching for a Lullaby,” curated by Michaela Pilar Brown will feature works by visual artists Roni Nicole Henderson (Columbia, SC)  and Pamela Burris (Washington, DC) that explore feminine signification through personal histories, technology and fantasy. The exhibit will take place at Tapp’s Arts Center (1644 Main St.).

Time Spent NYC, video artists, will conduct a film workshop with a team of Benedict College students who will create music videos featuring local rap artists from around Columbia with VHS cameras. The films will screen on Sunday, July 26 at a free screening.

Blaktastik Schedule of Events

Friday, July 24 (Nickelodeon Theatre, 1607 Main St.)

5:30 p.m. Girlhood film screening with post-film discussion led by the University of SC’s Tiye Gordon from the Columbia #NoFilterProject.
9 p.m. Field Niggas film screening with a post-film discussion with director Khalik Allah.

Saturday, July 25

5:30 p.m. An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (Nickelodeon Theatre).
6-10 p.m. Free Concert on the S.C. State House grounds.
8 p.m. Brother 2 Brother with post-film discussion led by representatives from SC Black Pride  (Nickelodeon Theatre).

Sunday, July 26

2 p.m. High school workshop free screening (Nickelodeon Theatre).
3 p.m. Fresh Dressed (Nickelodeon Theatre) with a post-film discussion with film director Sacha Jenkins.
5:30 p.m. Free college workshop screening with Time Spent NYC (Nickelodeon Theatre).
8 p.m. Do the Right Thing (Nickelodeon Theatre) with post-film discussion.

The Humanities Council SC, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Links, Alpha Broadcasting (The Big DM & Hot 103.9/93.9), The Boom Room Recording Studio and the Nickelodeon Theatre have provided funding for the festival.

To purchase tickets for Blaktastik or for more information on The Nickelodeon, please visit www.nickelodeon.org  or www.blaktastik.com or follow the Nick on Twitter and Facebook.