Craig Brewer, a celebrated filmmaker who’s called Memphis home for most of his adult life, is spending a weekend in Little Rock, courtesy of the bustling partnership between the Arkansas Cinema Society and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. Brewer is coming to town for a series of events at the AMFA.
At 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11, there’s a screening of “Hustle & Flow” (2005), the Terrance Howard-fronted film about an aging pimp attempting a pivot into hip hop that launched writer and director Brewer into the big leagues, followed by a Q&A. Shot and set in Memphis, “Hustle & Flow” won the Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and scored Howard an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, Brewer will offer a 90-minute workshop for aspiring filmmakers. Later that evening, “The Poor & Hungry” — Brewer’s debut feature, about a car mechanic/thief who gets romantically involved with one of his victims — will screen at 7:30 p.m. Filmed in black and white, the movie was also made in Memphis on a shoestring budget of only $20,000.
Brewer’s other directorial credits include “Black Snake Moan,” a remake of “Footloose,” two Eddie Murphy comedies — “Dolemite is My Name” and “Coming 2 America” — and several episodes of “Empire.”
To reserve tickets, head here.
