Crosstown Theater

Among the most praised titles in all contemporary film, this singular masterpiece of Taiwanese cinema, directed by Edward Yang, is set in the early sixties in Taiwan. A Brighter Summer Day is based on the true story of a crime that rocked the nation. A film of both sprawling scope and tender intimacy, this novelistic, patiently observed epic centers on the gradual, inexorable fall of a young teenager (Chen Chang, in his first role) from innocence to juvenile delinquency, and is set against a simmering backdrop of restless youth, rock and roll, and political turmoil.

A young punk, recruited by a car repo agency, finds himself in pursuit of a Chevrolet Malibu with a huge, $20,000 bounty — and something otherworldly stashed in its trunk.

In 1972, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and his then-lover Scott Smith leave New York for San Francisco, with Milk determined to accomplish something meaningful in his life. Settling in the Castro District, he opens a camera shop and helps transform the area into a mecca for gays and lesbians. In 1977 he becomes the nation's first openly gay man elected to a notable public office when he wins a seat on the Board of Supervisors. The following year, Dan White (Josh Brolin) kills Milk in cold blood. 

Welcome to your new favorite pop-art explosion. Stewardess Yoriko is kidnapped by a team of deadly female assassins who use vinyl records as weapons. Now, it’s up to photographer Hondo to uncover the conspiracy while dealing with go-go dancing ninjas and bullets made of chewing gum. The bubblegum reference isn’t a coincidence — Black Tight Killersis an ultra-stylish, candy-coated amusement park ride in the form of a movie. This overlooked crime-noir delight shares the visual inventiveness of Mario Bava’s Danger: Diabolik and the pulp thrills of Seijun Suzuki’s Tokyo Drifter. An essential big screen experience.

Celebrating over a quarter century of music making, the twice GRAMMY® Award-nominated Imani Winds has led both a revolution and evolution of the wind quintet through their dynamic playing, adventurous programming, imaginative collaborations, and outreach endeavors that have inspired audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Kirk Whalum’s Epic Cool is an electrifying collection of original grooves. Teaming up with producer Greg Manning (two-time GRAMMYr nominee, composer/collaborator on 10 No. 1 Billboard hits), Whalum focuses on his songwriting to craft an album that's passionate and spirited on a monumental scale, but with his trademark soul. Celebrate its release with this very special performance at Crosstown Theater!

A sequel of sorts to Romero’s 1968 film Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead tells the story of a group of survivors during a zombie outbreak who take refuge in a suburban shopping mall while mass hysteria wreaks havoc on their town. 

Join director Jamila Wignot in person for a preview of the first episode of the new HBO docuseries STAX: Soulsville U.S.A., followed by a panel discussion with Wignot and key participants. After the film and post-film discussion, please join HBO, Crosstown Arts, and Indie Memphis for a reception for all ticket-holders. The post-film reception will be held in the Crosstown Arts East Atrium (above the red staircase). Complimentary food and drinks will be provided.

Continuing the autobiographical story he began in The Dance of Reality, Endless Poetry is an ode to the quest for beauty and inner truth, as a universal force capable of changing one’s life forever, written by a man who has dedicated his existence to creating spiritual and artistic awareness, told through Jodorowsky’s unique surreal and psychedelic visual language.

This program, which includes award-winning and audience-favorite films from their most recent festival, intends for youth audiences to gain global awareness through the medium of film. From intergenerational friendship, to discovering and rescuing a friend from an alternate dimension, to learning how to honor your ancestors, these films beautifully cover a broad range of ages and experiences.