(Austin, TX) - The Austin Film Society (AFS) today announced it will screen the critically acclaimed documentary WHITE LIGHT/BLACK RAIN next month as part of its AFS Documentary Tour. The documentary, about the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, offers personal stories from 14 survivors, some of whom have never spoken publicly of their experiences. Academy Award-winning director Steven Okazaki will be in attendance for this very special free screening to answer questions from the audience about his film.
WHITE LIGHT/BLACK RAIN screens Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. at 501 Studios, 501 N. I-35.
Duane Byrge from Hollywood Reporter called the film "a stirring and heart-wrenching statement of the horrible powers that mankind holds in its fist." Dennis Harvey of Variety wrote, "Film's sobering impact lets the images and witnesses' words speak for themselves."
According to Farallon Films, the documentary is "a deeply moving look at the painful legacy of the first -- and hopefully last -- uses of nuclear weapons in war ... With a calm frankness that makes their stories unforgettable, the survivors bear witness to the unfathomable destructive power of nuclear weapons. Their accounts are illustrated with survivor paintings and drawings, historical footage and, photographs, including rare or never before seen material."
Tickets are free for this special screening, courtesy of HBO. Limited tickets may be reserved online at www.austinfilm.org. Online ticket sales close at 3 p.m. on the day of the screening. Remaining tickets will be available inside theater on night of the screening. Please visit the AFS Web site for ticket availability info.
The AFS Documentary Tour is made possible in part by support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division.
Photos (300 dpi) available upon request.
Austin Film Society promotes the appreciation of film and supports creative filmmaking by screening rarely seen films, giving grants and other support to emerging filmmakers, and providing access and education about film to youth and the public. Through Austin Studios, which AFS opened in 2000 in partnership with the City of Austin, AFS helps attract film development and production to Austin and Texas. Gala film premieres and the annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards raise funds as well as awareness of the impact of film on economy and community. The Austin Film Society is ranked among the top film centers in the country and recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and Directors Guild of America.
For more information on Austin Film Society, visit www.austinfilm.org.
