Currently 87, Hendricks to be on-hand Following Screening for Q&A with Audience

A documentary entitled Blues March: Soldier Jon Hendricks -- detailing the life of current jazz great Jon Hendricks during WWII -- will make its US debut at the African Diaspora Film Festival on Thursday, December 3, 8:30 p.m. at The Riverside Theatre, 91 Claremont Ave. (bet. 120th & 122nd St.), Morningside Heights.

In Europe during World War II, then 22-year-old Jon Hendricks, along with 900,000 other black GIs, was fighting on two fronts: against the Nazis and against racial discrimination in the US Army as well as in the United States. For Hendricks, who is now 87, it finally turned out to be a triumphant double victory although he never fired a shot. This documentary tells the adventurous and moving story of Jon Hendricks, later a world-renowned jazz musician, who, because of discrimination and harassment, deserted the army as did so many Afro-Americans. By Malte Rauch, USA/Germany, 78min, documentary in English. Following the screening, Hendricks will be on-hand for a Q&A session with the audience.

In addition to Blues March, the Festival will feature eight other US premieres and two New York premieres, for a program of films - which include a fiery mix of documentary, spoken word poetry and dramatizations - that prominently highlight the work of independent African American filmmakers.

Tickets to the African Diaspora Film Festival are $10 general admission and $8 for seniors and students. For more information or to purchase tickets, the public can call (212) 870-6784 or visit www.theriversidetheatre.org.

WHAT: 2009 AFRICAN DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL: BLUES MARCH: SOLDIER JON HENDRICKS
WHEN: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 8:30 P.M.
WHERE: THE RIVERSIDE THEATRE; 91 CLAREMONT AVE. (BET. 120TH & 122ND ST.); MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS
COST: $10 GENERAL ADMISSION; $8 SENIORS/STUDENTS

Directions: To get to The Riverside Theatre by subway take the 1 to 116th St. and walk to 91 Claremont Ave. (bet. 120th & 122nd St.) one block west of Broadway.