Hampton University School of Liberal Arts and Education presents the Sixth Annual Hampton University Film Festival

By Hampton University

The Hampton University School of Liberal Arts and Education will host its Sixth Annual Film Festival April 6-7 in the Student Center.Ā Ā This yearā€™s festival features film screenings, discussions and dialogues with some of Hollywoodā€™s biggest and brightest stars, including Keith David, MeKai Curtis and Roy T. Anderson.Ā 

ā€œThank you to Professor Rel Dowdell for his diligent work in bringing Hollywood to Hampton University and to the Hampton Roads community by way of this annual film festival. The presenters will be highly impressed with the future screenwriters Hampton University is developing,ā€ said Dr. William R. Harvey, Hampton Universityā€™s President.

The two-day festival will feature the screening of several films and discussions on topics ranging from cultural appropriation in film to the impact of Michael Jacksonā€™sĀ ThrillerĀ to Roy T. Andersonā€™s award-winning documentary calledĀ African-Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus Garvey, narrated by Keith David, and much more.Ā 

The Sixth Annual Hampton University Film Festival welcomes veteran star of television and film Keith David; rising star MeKai Curtis and long-time stuntman, actor and producer Roy T. Anderson.

Keith David is a classically trained actor, having won 3 Emmys out of 6 nominations as well as having been nominated for a Tony award. He starred in the recently concluded TV seriesĀ GreenleafĀ on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network. Upcoming films includeĀ Horizon LineĀ with Allison Williams (Get Out) andĀ Black As Night, for Amazon.

Mekai Curtis is an actor knownĀ for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad DayĀ (2014),Ā Girl Meets WorldĀ (2014),Ā Kirby BucketsĀ (2014) andĀ Milo Murphy’s LawĀ (2016). His latest project isĀ Raising Kanan, a television hit produced by Curtis ā€œ50 Centā€ Jackson.

Roy T. Anderson is a Jamaican-born, U.S.-based stunt coordinator/stuntman, actor, and filmmaker. He is the producer of two award-winning documentaries:Ā Akwantu: The JourneyĀ (2012), andĀ Queen Nanny: Legendary Maroon ChieftainessĀ (2015).

ā€œAs coordinator for the Hampton University and Mellon Center Film Festival and film studies professor, it is my honor to assemble and organize such a preeminent event, which will have a resoundingly positive impact for years to come,ā€ said Rel Dowdell, assistant professor of English and Film Studies and the Coordinator for the Mellon Center Film Festival. ā€œTo have generational talents such as Emmy-award winning master thespian Keith David, top young acting wunderkind MeKai Curtis, and noted documentarian/top stuntman Roy T. Anderson live and in-person on Hampton’s historic campus to interact with all in attendance for this event is a blessing beyond measure. Each is a dream realizer and dream shaper whose inspirational industry stories are incredible and inspirational.ā€