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. This year’s festival features film screenings, discussions and dialogues with some of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars, including Keith David, MeKai Curtis and Roy T. Anderson.
“Thank 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,” said Dr. William R. Harvey, Hampton University’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 Jackson’s Thriller to Roy T. Anderson’s award-winning documentary called African-Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus Garvey, narrated by Keith David, and much more.
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 series Greenleaf on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network. Upcoming films include Horizon Line with Allison Williams (Get Out) and Black As Night, for Amazon.
Mekai Curtis is an actor known for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014), Girl Meets World (2014), Kirby Buckets (2014) and Milo Murphy’s Law (2016). His latest project is Raising Kanan, a television hit produced by Curtis “50 Cent” 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: Akwantu: The Journey (2012), and Queen Nanny: Legendary Maroon Chieftainess (2015).
“As 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,” said Rel Dowdell, assistant professor of English and Film Studies and the Coordinator for the Mellon Center Film Festival. “To 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.”
