On January 31, 2013, Safe Space will host the Atlanta Premiere of Friend of Essex, a documentary drama presented by Nu Nation Production of Boston. Friend of Essex is a mix of one-on-one interviews, group interviews, narrative pieces and poetry inspired by Essex Hemphill’s writing and the 1989 film Tongues Untied by Marlon Riggs. A piece in the film entitled, “Dear White Jesus” explores religious homophobia in the Black church and its direct connections to racism. Two central pieces of Friend of Essex are the importance of community among young black gay men and the HIV epidemic, of which young Black gay men are at the epicenter.

The premiere will be held in the Bank of America Auditorium with a directorial commentary and discussion of the movie’s themes with the writer and director, Amir Dixon, at the end. Click here to view the media kit for this event, and register for the event here.

View the trailer below: