By james art
By Barnett Wright | Birmingham Times
Marie King, who headlined the Black Lens run at Birmingham’s Sidewalk Film Festival, will begin a new chapter, she announced on social media this week.
“I have a few projects I’m working on and I’m working on a play that I’m going to start putting together more [for] that I want to produce next year,” King told The Birmingham Times on Tuesday.
King created a showcase in Birmingham that highlighted films that not only focused on black characters and black culture, but were also created by black filmmakers.
“I wanted to see different stories from the black community highlighted,” she told the Birmingham Times in a 2023 interview, explaining that she was interested in seeing a variety of black films, including comedies, horrors and romances.
“I try to make sure I hit the intersections within our community,” added King, who has served as lead shorts and Black Lens programmer at Sidewalk. “We are not a monolithic group of people.”
She wrote on social media this week: “As I step into a new chapter, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been a part of my Sidewalk journey. Your support meant so much to me.”
She wrote: “To the Sidewalk team, thank you for your cooperation, encouragement and trust. Being a volunteer and developer has been an honor and a joy and I couldn’t have done it without you.”
King also thanked Chloe Cook, who is Sidewalk’s executive director and has been with the organization for nearly 16 years, “for always being the biggest cheerleader behind the scenes, center stage, and giving me the freedom to develop a vision for Black Lens and Shorts.”
King, 44, is a WK Kellogg Foundation-trained facilitator who leads racial reconciliation workshops across the region.
She has a BA in Urban and Global Economic Development and a MA in Leadership and Divinity.
Some of her notable works include Shuttlesworth, co-produced with J. Hardy Whitson, with the support of Alabama Public Television, which chronicles the life and work of Birmingham civil rights activist the Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth.
In his post this week, King wrote in part,
“To the amazing community in Birmingham, thank you for always showing up, embracing both the lighthearted moments and the tougher, raw discussions. I loved sharing laughs, organizing shenanigans and also witnessing your willingness to be vulnerable with challenging films and meaningful conversations.
“Finally, for every organization that sponsored a Black Lens screening or provided in-kind services, your support was instrumental in making these events successful and impactful. I will miss everything dearly, but I leave with gratitude and anticipation for what lies ahead. See you at the movies.”