Join us for our Week 3 of ARRAY360 at ARRAY BALL screening showcase. A 35th anniversary spotlight screening of Jennie Livingston’s quintessential portrait of NYC’s ball culture, PARIS IS BURNING. In collaboration with Reach LA, the program will also feature a health information clinic and a live Ballroom 101 demonstration with an introduction to the categories.

EVENT SCHEDULE

3:00 PM | Guest Check-in Begins
4:00 PM | Feature Film presentation: PARIS IS BURNING (2018) (Run Time: 1h 11m)

Screening to be followed by ARRAY Ballroom 101 with an instruction of the categories by choreographer Stephanie “Packrat” Whitfield, in partnership with Reach LA.

About The Film

This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City’s African American and Latinx Harlem drag ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion “houses,” from fierce contests for trophies, to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia and transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women—including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey and Venus Xtravaganza—PARIS IS BURNING brings it, celebrating the joy of movement, the force of eloquence and the power of community.

Digitally remastered by the UCLA Film and Television Archive in conjunction with Sundance Institute and Outfest UCLA Legacy Project. Preservation funded by Sundance Institute, Outfest and the Andrew J. Kuehn Jr. Foundation.

MPA Rating:
NOT-RATED

About The Filmmaker

Jennie Livingston is a groundbreaking filmmaker, known for lively storytelling and nuanced character portraits. Jennie has received numerous awards and fellowships, including from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, for the thoughtful explorations of race, class, gender and sexuality within her work. The iconic 1990 documentary PARIS IS BURNING won a Sundance Grand Jury Prize. Jennie’s work as a writer and director includes: the short film WHO’S THE TOP, consulting producer and director on Pose(FX), the upcoming feature EARTH CAMP ONE and Jennie’s most recent documentary I’M YOUR VENUS is now playing on Netflix.

About Reach LA

REACH LA is a nonprofit organization committed to uplifting LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults through the arts, advocacy, wellness, and community engagement. They provide inclusive, affirming spaces where youth can build power, pursue wellness, and create meaningful change.

This event features an informative BALLROOM Dance lesson followed by an opportunity to practice what you learned.