The New Orleans Film Society continues its ongoing Seeing Music: Film & Conversation Series (sponsored in part by OffBeat) with a screening of What You Gonna Do When the World’s On Fire?, a film which recently brought New Orleans locals to the prestigious Venice Film Festival.

The screening takes place on Tuesday, April 9 at the NOCCA Institute, followed by a conversation with actress Judy Hill, the lead of the film and daughter of late New Orleans R&B legend Jessie Hill and former owner of the Ooh Poo Pah Doo.

What You Gonna Do When the World’s On Fire? shines light on the silenced, a group of people in the American South who are constantly challenged by discrimination and gentrification. Focused on the summer of 2017 when a string of brutal killings of young African
American men sent shockwaves throughout the country, the film aims to dig deeper into the relationship between law enforcement and African Americans. Directed by Roberto Minervini, the film premiered and won four awards at the Venice Film Festival.

After the film screening, Judy Hill will lead an impactful discussion of the topics the film covers. The Tremé native will have lots to say, as she knows best what exactly it means to experience the New Orleans lifestyle first hand. Three years ago, Hill became the owner of Ooh Poo Pah Doo, the historic New Orleans bar where locals congregated to talk, drink, and play music. Judy also held meetings at the bar with friends, family members and local activists, to take charge of the situation of Black people in New Orleans and the American South. In 2017, Judy lost her bar due to the Tremé’s gentrification process, which drove rent and property costs up, while pushing people out of the only neighborhood and community that they had ever known.

The reception will take place at 7 pm, with the screening starting at 7:30 pm, and the discussion being held at 8:50 pm. Admission is free for New Orleans Film Society members. Tickets for others can be purchased here.