On Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. in The Elsinore Theatre, documentary filmmaker Keith Beauchamp will show his Emmy-nominated film, “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till.”
Till, a 14-year-old African American boy, was murdered in 1955 for purportedly flirting with a white woman. Till’s body was recovered three days later from the Tallahatchie River. His mother chose an open-casket funeral, bringing intense national and international media attention to American racism.
"This film brings to light new evidence and never before-seen testimony that compelled the FBI to reopen the 50-year-old investigation into Till’s murder, which sparked the largest movement for social and political change in our nation's history," said Maegan Parker Brooks, assistant professor of Civic Communication and Media at Willamette University.
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. for the screening. Beauchamp will discuss the making of the documentary, its effects and his current major motion picture project, “Till.” The filmmaker will answer audience questions after the show.
Tickets are $6 and are available at elsinoretheatre.com. Admission is free with Willamette ID.
On Sept. 29 at 11:30 a.m. in Willamette’s Cone Chapel, Beauchamp will discuss filmmaking and social justice. The public is welcome to attend this free talk.
Beauchamp’s visit is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.