Past Events › Crosstown Theater
February 2024
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents MEMPHIS 13
First grade can be a scary thing, even without the burden of making history. In October 1961, 13 first graders became some of the smallest pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement when they desegregated the Memphis City Schools. ‘The Memphis 13’ is their story. This documentary collects the stories of 13 families united by a comment moment in history, but experiences individually; stories of normal children living through an extraordinary moment. A half century later, they are proud of having broken a barrier, but many remain burdened by this difficult experience. The film uncovers a hidden story of the Movement, honors the children who lived it, and raises questions about the role of children in movements for social change. With a special guest panel discussion after the film.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents ANSELM
In Anselm, Wim Wenders creates a portrait of Anselm Kiefer, one of the most innovative and important painters and sculptors of our time. Shot in 3D and 6K-resolution, the film presents a cinematic experience of the artist’s work which explores human existence and the cyclical nature of history, inspired by literature, poetry, philosophy, science, mythology and religion. For over two years, Wenders traced Kiefer’s path from his native Germany to his current home in France, connecting the stages of his life to the essential places of his career that spans more than five decades.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents THE LAST DRAGON
Leroy Green (Taimak), a young martial artist living in New York City, trains tirelessly to attain the same level of mastery as the great Bruce Lee. One night, his life changes forever when he rescues television personality Laura Charles (Vanity) from evil businessman Eddie Arkadian (Chris Murney). Impressed by Leroy’s bravery, Laura falls for Leroy — but to keep her safe, he will have to defeat a gang leader named Sho’nuff (Julius J. Carry III), the self-styled Shogun of Harlem.
MicroCinema: 61st Ann Arbor Film Festival Shorts Tour
Indie Memphis and Crosstown Arts are honored to continue to showcase films from the most recent edition of the Ann Arbor Film Festival, the oldest experimental and avant-garde film festival in North America. Using various techniques, from puppetry to mixing digital and analog film approaches, these films explore shades of the relationships between humanity and the natural world, between humans and each other, and speculate on their meaning and changing possibilities.
Rhapsody in Blue 100th Anniversary
The Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Crosstown Arts present Rhapsody in Blue 100th Anniversary in Crosstown Theater.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents THE THIRD MAN
Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten), a writer of pulp Westerns, arrives in a bombed-out, post-war Vienna at the invitation of his childhood friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles) only to find him dead. Martins develops the ultimate conspiracy theory after learning of a “third man” present at the time of Harry’s death, butting up against interference from British police officer Major Calloway (Trevor Howard), and falling head-over-heels for Harry’s grief-stricken lover Anna (Alida Valli).
January 2024
Mahogany Chamber Music Series: MLK Freedom Celebration
In January, encounter MLK Freedom Celebration, which aims to pay homage to capturing the beauty, struggle, and resilience of the Memphis community through music.
December 2023
Season of Delight
As part of the final night of Season of Delight, Crosstown Arts and Crosstown Concourse will collaborate to screen a holiday feature in Crosstown Theater. The feature-length Die Hard will be screened for free. Theater doors open at 6 pm, and the films begin at 6:30 pm.
MicroCinema: When The Apocalypse is Over (New Generations of Philippine Cinema)
Indie Memphis and Crosstown Arts are excited to present When The Apocalypse is Over, a block of aspect ratio-, post-production-, or VFX-heavy shorts from the latest generations of filmmakers in the Philippines.
Season of Delight
As part of the second night of Season of Delight, Crosstown Arts and Crosstown Concourse will collaborate to screen a holiday feature in Crosstown Theater. The feature-length Home Alone will be screened for free. Theater doors open at 6 pm, and the films begin at 6:30 pm. There will also be the Resident Artists Open Studio event, and more! Artists in residence will have their studios open on Friday, December 8, from 5 to 6:30 pm; and musical artists OutPastMidnight and danieljmorrow will perform in The Green Room from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
