WV Students In Spotlight At Film Screening
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Circuit Clerk Daryl Burney and District 5 Election Commissioner Vivian Simmons speak with Water Valley students about registering to vote during a 2024 courthouse tour. Footage from the day appears in the film.
OXFORD — A free public screening of Citizens Revival: It’s Not Too Late will be held Monday, December 8, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Malco Oxford Commons, offering local residents a first look at a new impact film focused on civic participation and civic education in America. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and seating is limited. An RSVP is requested.
The event will feature the director’s cut of the film, a longer version that includes footage from seven cities—Charleston, Atlanta, Nashville, Detroit, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Water Valley. The screening is suitable for all ages. Paid parking will be available at the venue.
Produced by the creative team at This Is Noteworthy (TIN), Citizens Revival is described as an “impact film” rather than a traditional documentary. Using cinéma vérité, interviews, live events and student-led discussions, the film explores civic engagement during the 2024 election season and highlights the need for greater civic literacy nationwide.
“This project is about participation,” filmmaker Becca Finley said. “The message isn’t what you think politically—it’s that our democracy depends on citizens being involved, and we are seeing fewer people participate. Our children deserve to be educated, and we’re not doing a good job of that right now.”
The film features 120 voices from across the country, drawn from more than 500 people who participated in some stage of the project. Water Valley is represented in several scenes, including a student art and civics day led by WVHS English teacher Anna Koshenina; interviews with Alderwoman Nicole Folson; and a courthouse segment with Yalobusha County
Circuit Clerk Daryl Burney and District 5 Election Commission Vivian Simmons.
Following the screening, a panel discussion will be held with Ward Four Alderperson Nicole Folson, Water Valley High School English teacher Anna Koshenina and Finley.
Finley said the Dec. 8 screening is part of a series taking place in all seven filming locations.
The long-form version shown in Oxford will later be divided into three civic-education modules designed for classroom use and made available to schools nationwide.
“This may be the only chance to see the full version in person,” Finley said. “We want people to experience it, talk about it and take part in the conversation about civic engagement.”
Admission is free, but seating is limited. RSVP information is included at the bottom of the article.
