News Release
Orion, United Artists
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Contact: Brian Schwieger, 501-396-3006
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, in partnership with Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and Jefferson National Parks Association, announces a free screening of the film “Till” on Thursday, November 16 at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center (501 W. Ninth Street in Little Rock). The screening will begin in the ballroom at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center at 6:00 p.m.; doors open at 5:00 p.m.Till is the true story of Mamie Till-Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett. This emotional story narrates how after tragedy, Mamie Till-Mobley's bravery inspired a nation. A post-film discussion will be led by one of the film’s producers, Keith A. Beauchamp.
Beauchamp, an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Till Freedom Come Productions, has devoted the past twenty-nine years of his life to telling the story of Emmett Till and has traveled extensively between New York, Chicago, and Mississippi to investigate the historic murder. During this journey, Beauchamp befriended Mamie Till-Mobley who inspired him to join her ongoing efforts to seek justice in her son’s case. As a result of their close relationship, Beauchamp produced and directed the award-winning 2005 documentary, The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till, while persistently lobbying both the State of Mississippi and the federal government to reopen the Emmett Till murder case.
In May 2004, the United States Department of Justice reopened the nearly 50-year-old murder case citing Beauchamp’s documentary as both a major factor in their decision and the starting point for their investigation. In 2005, Emmett Till’s body was exhumed; in 2006, the FBI handed over evidence to the Leflore County District Attorney in Mississippi. After a Mississippi Grand Jury decided in 2007 not to indict the remaining suspects in the case, Beauchamp began his collaboration with the FBI’s Till- inspired Civil Rights “Cold Case” Initiative, producing documentaries on other unsolved civil rights murders in hopes of helping federal agents with their investigations that could bring remaining perpetrators to justice.
After what would be almost a two-decade-long friendship, producers Barbara Broccoli, Fred Zollo, EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg, and Beauchamp teamed up to produce the greatly anticipated theatrical feature film, Till, directed by award-winning director Chinonye Chukwu and released in 2022.
The event is free and open to the public. Professional Development credit in Arkansas History or American History will be provided for K-12 educators who attend the entire event. For more information about the program, please call (501) 396-3006 or email brian_schwieger@nps.gov.
Last updated: November 16, 2023