LANGSTON’S FADE TO BLACK Presents:

ZOLA

$10. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute.

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

In partnership with A24, LANGSTON is proud to raise awareness for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers with a screening of the film Zola and a panel discussing the film and the current issues facing sex workers.

Zola is a 2020 film, directed by Janizca Bravo (Lemon) and written by Jeremy O. Harris (Broadway’s Slave Play) based on the 2015 twitter thread by Aziah “Zola” King and the Rolling Stone article “Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted” by David Kushner. The film is a reenactment of Zola’s trip to Florida which results in kidnapping, an attempted suicide, and trapping, before she eventually returns home, in what has been referred to online as the “Thotyssey”, rivaling a Greek play.

The event will include a panel with community members to discuss the issues brought up in the film, as well as OnlyFans, Instagram censorship, Seattle law enforcement, and the mental health of the sex workers in our lives. Panelists will be announced via social media soon! Hosted by our Fade to Black curator and Film Programs Manager, Isabella Price.

About Fade to Black

Fade to Black, our monthly film series that focuses on the Black image in film began with an exploration into horror films and has screened films like Horror Noire, Blacula, Candyman, Night of the Living Dead, and more. Screenings have also included conversations with actors, directors, scholars, and fans. Past guests have included Candyman star Tony Todd, The Craft actor Rachel True, screenwriter Marc Bernardin, The Invitation actor Emayatzy Corinealdi, Black Panther stunt actor Gui DeSilva Greene, and writer Tananarive Due, to name a few.