Free screening of ‘Moonlight’


Academy Award-winning film Moonlight explores a Miami most never see. On Tuesday, April 4, the film will come to FIU.

Steering clear of simple stereotypes, the film explores race, violence, homosexuality and discrimination among the streets of Miami.

“It’s Liberty City. It’s the nitty gritty of living and growing up in this town, and it’s one of so many Miami stories that are dying to be told,” said Andy Strycharski, director of the Film Studies Program in FIU’s Department of English.

Strycharski, a literacy, technology and education expert, is hosting a screening of the film and panel discussion starting at 7 p.m. in room 140 of the FIU Graham Center. The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.

Moonlight chronicles the life of Chiron, an African-American, gay man from Liberty City and is based on the unpublished semi-autobiographical play by Tarell Alvin McCraney. This year, Moonlight became the first film with an all-black cast, the first LGBT-centered film, and the second lowest-grossing film (behind The Hurt Locker) to win the Oscar for Best Picture. Mahershala Ali took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Juan, a black Cuban drug dealer in the film. Ali is the first Muslim to ever win an Oscar.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with community leaders who deal with some of the issues addressed in the movie. Panelists include:

  • Marshall Davis, African Heritage Cultural Arts Center;
  • Lutze B. Segu, Miami Workers Center;
  • Jonathan Spikes, Jonathan Spikes Foundation;
  • Kemar McIntosh, FIU Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies.

They will share their experiences, as well as resources and opportunities available to students. The discussion will be moderated by Heather Russell, chairperson of FIU’s Department of English.

The event is sponsored by FIU’s Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, Department of English, Film Initiative: Underground at FIU, Film Studies Program, Graduate English Association, Initiative for Gender Violence Prevention, Sigma Tau Delta, Multicultural Programs and Services LGBTQA Initiatives, Stonewall Pride Alliance, and Women, Sexuality, and Gender Studies Association.