By Brianna N. McAdoo, Special to the AFRO
The sounds of Chocolate City are making their way down South this summer, where Straight Crankin’ A Go-Go Documentary has been nominated in the documentary category at the 10th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival.
In September of 2018, the District’s Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) released the historic documentary Straight Crankin’, chronicling the forty plus year history of Go-Go music in the nation’s capital. The film’s nomination in the BronzeLens Film Festival is a history-making nomination for the D.C. government, as it is their first original production nominated in a major film festival.
Straight Crankin’, a Go-Go documentary, which premiered at the Lincoln Theatre in September 2018, was nominated for the documentary category at the 10th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival, which will take place in Atlanta late August. (Courtesy Photo)
This festival nomination follows the District’s Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment’s first Emmy win in 2018 for “The 202” Bell Biv Devoe episode and their nomination this year for their historical program, “Black History Through Song.”
“There are so many amazing stories to tell about the history and culture of local D.C., of Chocolate City, and of the many Washingtonians who helped build the vibrant, diverse and inclusive city we live in today,” District of Columbia Mayor Bowser said in a press release.
“We know the joy of Go-Go well here in D.C.; now, Straight Crankin’ is going to help us spread that joy nationwide.”
Straight Crankin’ is a compelling attempt at capturing the birth and evolution of Go-Go in Washington, D.C. Through the film’s thorough re-telling, the curators of Go-Go culture and sound, a history that has faced erasure, found power on screen. The documentary features many heavy hitters in the Go-Go scene including Rare Essence, TCB, Junkyard band, Experience Unlimited, Backyard Band and many more.
The BronzeLens Film Festival, an Atlanta-based organization founded in 2009, aims to highlight films made by people of color in addition to fulfilling their mission, in order “ to promote Atlanta as the new film mecca for people of color; and to showcase films and provide networking opportunities that will develop the next generation of filmmakers.”
The 10th Annual BronzeLens Film festival will take place this summer at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, GA from August 21-25. During the course of the film festival, independent films will be shown from filmmakers across the country and throughout the world.
“Go-Go is an integral part of Washington, D.C.’s musical history. The D.C. genre of Go-Go music and its roots are chronicled in {Straight Crankin’, said Director of the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) Angie Gates. “We are extremely proud to be selected for the BronzeLens Film Festival and to tell the educational story of Go-Go.”
To find out more information about the Annual BronzeLens Film Festival, visit https://bronzelens.com.