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Allison Inman
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This month, Nashville's nonprofit independent cinema, The Belcourt, is celebrating its 15th year as a vibrant haven for art house and independent films.
In addition to hosting special educational events and field trips for students, they've found a simple yet powerful way to bring the art of film directly to young audiences. A mobile movie theaterconsisting of a projector, PA, and screenstarted traveling to afterschool and summer programs in 2012, says Allison Inman, the Belcourt's education and engagement director. She and programming associate Zack Hall treat students to a short film, often animated or a documentary, followed by a discussion. Younger elementary school students might draw in response to the screening, while fourth- and fifth-graders get a kick out of writing and sharing capsule reviews.
'I want to show them that there's a great world of film out there beyond superhero franchises and the multiplex,” Inman says. 'They like documentaries and difficult subjects, which is something I might not have expected. We talk about the art of cinema and the theater experience, and we talk about the history of film and about preserving film as an art form.”
The response has been tremendous, with the initiative expanding from six partnerships to 17 in the past year, Inman says. Sometimes she brings in special guestsfilmmakers, production designers, animatorsto talk to the students about their work. And even a language barrier can be overcome by film, as Inman found when she showed the French silent film The Red Balloon to a group of children from immigrant and refugee families, none of whom shared a common language. To convey their impressions, the children drew pictures of what they'd seen.
'Film is just such an unifier,” Inman says. 'We have a lot of opportunities to talk about the issues they're facing in life while still enjoying a real piece of art.”
Four-Star Snacks
For years, the Belcourt has been the place to enjoy a cold Yazoo Dos Perros or Bongo Java coffee with your popcorn while taking in a new film. Lately, the snacks are nearly as strong a draw as the cinema itself, with the selection of locally made concessions expanding to include Jackalope brews, Bang Candy Co. marshmallows, and Olive & Sinclair chocolate.
Last fall, some surprising savory treats joined the menu, thanks to a partnership with the Mesa Komal Commercial Kitchen, operated by local nonprofit Conexion Americas, where many local food entrepreneurs craft their goods. Karla's Catering now delivers fresh empanadas and tamales weekly, and locally made hummus and pimento cheese are also popular items.
2102 Belcourt Ave., 615-846-3150; belcourt.org