Prom Night in Mississippi

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After the United States Supreme Court mandated the integration of segregated schools in 1954, it took until 1970 for the black and white students in Charlestown, Mississippi to attend the same school. And even then, white parents refused to integrate the prom, starting a tradition of White Prom and Black Prom, separate but equal. Flash forward to 1997 when Morgan Freeman, Academy Award® winner and resident of Charlestown, offers to pay for the prom… if it is integrated. His offer is ignored. In 2008 he offers again, hoping to break what he calls the “logjam of inaction” regarding issues of race at the school. He isn’t looking for an earth-shaking social movement; he simply wants to “allow the opportunity” for the students to experience the rite of passage together. Consent is given, agreements are made, and no one is more excited than the students. But it’s a long, bumpy road to the prom and the journey exposes deep roots of racism within the older generation. Can the cycle really be broken? As dresses are purchased, dates are decided, and limos are booked, there are poignant stories told by both parents and students on how this senior celebration got to be so weighty. The story is magical and you can’t help but fall in love with each of the students who just want to have some fun and experience PROM NIGHT IN MISSISSIPPI. – C.C.P.

This film is made possible through the generous support of STEWART and DONNA KOHL.

Sidebars	Standing Up Competition, Pan-African Images, Family Films
Producer	Patricia Aquino
Screenplay	Paul Saltzman
Cinematography	Don Warren, Paul Kolycius
Editing	Kevin Schjerning, Stephen Philipson
Director Bio	Paul Saltzman spent much of his younger life and early career traveling around the world documenting native art forms. He is a filmmaker, producer, and photographer, known for his work with the National Film Board of Canada and for a collection of photographs he shot when in India in 1967 where he encountered the Beatles and spent a week with them at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram. Since then he has had a varied, prolific, and highly lauded career in film and television, including winning two Emmy Awards.
Select Filmography	PROM NIGHT IN MISSISSIPPI (2008)
Print Source	Return to Mississippi Productions Paul Saltzman paul@sfl-films.com

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Past Screenings

Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Monday, March 23, 2009 at 4:20 PM
- with FilmForum

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Prom Night in Mississippi

Past Screenings

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