NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of "Alive Inside" at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
Written, produced and directed by Michael Rossato-Bennett, "Alive Inside" is a cinematic exploration of "music's capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity," according to information at aliveinside.us.
Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals around the country who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music. His camera reveals the uniquely human connection found in music and how its healing power can triumph where prescription medication falls short. The film follows social worker Dan Cohen as he fights against a broken healthcare system to demonstrate music's ability to combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from dementia, the website said.
"Alive Inside" earned audience awards at numerous film festivals after its release in 2014, including at the Sundance, Provincetown, Calgary Underground and Berkshire film festivals. It was named best documentary at the Fort Myers Beach Film Festival and earned the 2015 Ageless Dignity Award for National Elder Abuse Day. The film runs 78 minutes.
Before the screening, Grant Howarth, MT-BC, with the Music Memory program at Heart to Heart Hospice, will speak for a few minutes about how the power of music can help a person "bypass tangled parts of the brain." He will remain after the screening to answer questions informally.
This screening is part of the School of Art's monthly Friday Film Series and is sponsored in part by William Arscott, Nacogdoches Film Festival, Karon Gillespie, Mike Mollot, David Kulhavy, Brad Maule, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton, Main Street Nacogdoches and Nacogdoches Junior Forum.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
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