Screenings

Public screenings of The Area are back after a pandemic pause. Please contact the team to schedule an in-person or virtual, public or private event.

Universities, libraries, and other institutions may purchase or license the film through our distributor, Grasshopper Films.

A list of public screenings is below.

Watch the above view to see selections from discussions held with THE AREA at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago featuring:

  • Deborah Payne – Protagonist & Co-Producer, THE AREA
  • David Schalliol – Director, THE AREA
  • Emmanuel Pratt – Executive Director, Sweet Water Foundation
  • Charles Alexander Preston – Activist & journalist
  • Bishop Edward Peecher – Together Chicago
  • Tonika Lewis Johnson – Photographer & activist
  • The National Public Housing Museum’s Oral History Corps
  • Lee Bey – Critic & photographer
  • Marisa Novara – Vice President, Metropolitan Planning Council
  • Tweak Harris – Activist & musician
  • Carlos Javier Ortiz – Photographer & filmmaker
  • Alden Loury – Senior Editor for Race, Class & Communities, WBEZ Chicago Public Radio
  • Alex Kotlowitz – Author & filmmaker 
  • Pastor Chris Butler – Chicago Embassy Church

Public Screenings

5/23/20247:00PMThird Space ChicagoChicago, IL
Free: Panel discussion with Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby to follow.
2/23/20246:00PMDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community CenterMilwaukee, WI
Free: Panel discussion with Deborah Payne and David Schalliol to follow, moderated by Milwaukee Film’s Marquise Mays.
6/18/20231:30PMKelly Branch, Chicago Public LibraryChicago, IL
Free: Panel discussion with filmmakers to follow.
6/10/202312:30PMKelly Branch, Chicago Public Library Chicago, IL
Free: Panel discussion with Deborah Payne and Gabriel Charles Tyler to follow.
2/19/20204:00PMElmhurst CollegeElmhurst, IL
Panel discussion with Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby to follow. Free to Elmhurst College students, faculty, staff, and alumni. $10 to the general public. Tickets available here.
11/10/20191:00PMNō StudiosMilwaukee, WI
Free Social Justice Summit Screening: Panel discussion with Walnut Way Conservation Corp. co-founders Sharon and Larry Adams with Deborah Payne and David Schalliol. Register here.
10/19/20197:00PMChicago FilmmakersChicago, IL
Chicago Filmmakers Presents: Panel discussion with Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby
9/28/20197:30PMBeverly Arts CenterChicago, IL
A PullmanArts event co-sponsored by the Beverly Arts Center: Panel discussion with Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby
9/26/20197:00PMComfort StationChicago, IL
The Art Leaders of Color Network Presents: Free panel discussion with Alderman Daniel LaSpata, the Logan Square Neighborhood Association’s Christian Diaz, Deborah Payne, and Brian Ashby
9/14/20197:00PMChicago FilmmakersChicago, IL
Chicago Filmmakers Presents: Panel discussion with Deborah Payne, Brian Ashby, and David Schalliol
7/23/20196:00PMMandrake Park Recreation FacilityChicago, IL
Panel discussion with Bronzeville Historical Society President Sherry Williams; Englewood Activist John Ellis; Woodlawn Activist Manny Frencha; Activist, Educator, and Author Yaaba X; and filmmakers — Register here
7/19/201910:00AMOsher Lifelong Learning Institute, Northwestern UniversityChicago, IL
Free: Panel discussion with Brian Ashby and Deborah Payne — Register here
7/15/20195:30PMLegler Regional Public LibraryChicago, IL
Free screening as part of the Best of Black Harvest Film Festival series: Panel discussion with Brian Ashby and Deborah Payne
6/20-22/2019DailyInternational Visual Sociological Association Annual MeetingSaratoga Springs, NY
Free with conference registration
5/16/20197:00PMThe Block Museum of ArtEvanston, IL
Panel discussion with Deborah Payne, Brian Ashby, and David Schalliol
4/29/20198:00PMEcho Park Film CenterLos Angeles, CA
Panel discussion with Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby
4/26/20193:45PMUrban Affairs Association Annual MeetingLos Angeles, CA
Free with conference registration: Panel discussion with David Schalliol
4/20/20193:00PMTube Factory ArtspaceIndianapolis, IN
Free: panel discussion moderated by Big Car Collaborative’s Co-Founder/Director of Programming & Exhibitions Shauta Marsh, with Deborah Payne, Brian Ashby, and David Schalliol
4/5/20192:00PMStony Island Arts BankChicago, IL
Screened as part of the Black Panther Party 10 Point Film Series with Black Panther Billy Dunbar, Deborah Payne, and Brian Ashby.
3/29/20193:00PMUMASS BostonBoston, MA
Panel discussion with Deborah Payne and David Schalliol, moderated by Andrea Leverentz
2/27/20196:30PMUniversity of Illinois Chicago School of Public HealthChicago, IL
Free: panel discussion with an emphasis on public with Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby
2/21/20195:00PMOak Street HealthChicago, IL
Free: panel discussion with an emphasis on senior issues with Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby
2/10/201912:30PMSF Indie FestSan Francisco, CA
1/29/20197:00PMStudio Movie GrillChicago, IL
A discussion about displacement and environmental justice with Chicago mayoral candidate Amara Enyia, equity thought leader Naomi Denise Davis, Deborah Payne, and David Schalliol
1/24/20195:00PMWoodlawn Resource CenterChicago, IL
The Obama Library CBA Coalition presents a screening followed by a Q & A
1/21/20195:00PMRush University Medical CenterChicago, IL
The Office of Community Engagement presents the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day screening and discussion with Marlon Haywood, Ed.D., LaMenta Conway, M.D., and David Ansell, M.D., with Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby. Moderated by Steven K. Rothschild, M.D.
12/15/201812:30PMStony Island Arts BankChicago, IL
The Neighborhood Network Alliance presents a screening followed by a Q&A
12/06/20186:00PMWeinberg/Newton GalleryChicago, IL
Brian Ashby and Deborah Payne, with contributions from My Block, My Hood, My City
12/03/20186:00PMKennedy-King CollegeChicago, IL
RAGE Co-Founder & President Asiaha Butler and Debra Thompson in conversation with Deborah Payne and David Schalliol, moderated by Kennedy-King Professor Nora Gaines
11/14/20186:30PMSt. Olaf CollegeNorthfield, MN
Filmmakers in Person: Deborah Payne and David Schalliol in conversation
11/8/20187:00PMThe University of ChicagoChicago, IL
The Film Studies Center and the Pozen Center for Human Rights present: Deborah Payne, David Schalliol, and Brian Ashby in conversation with Professor Judy Hoffman
10/29/20185:00PMRush University Medical CenterChicago, IL
SOLD OUT The Rush University Medical Center Office of Community Engagement presents: Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby in conversation with Marlon Haywood and David Ansell in the Armour Academic Center (Lecture Hall 976)
9/27/20188:15PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
Chicago Embassy Church Bishop Ed Peecher and Pastor Chris Butler with Deborah Payne
9/26/20186:00PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
9/24/20188:00PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
Audrey Petty, author of High Rise Stories, with Deborah Payne and Brian Ashby
9/23/20183:00PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
Sweet Water Foundation Executive Director Emmanuel Pratt with Deborah Payne and David Schalliol
9/22/20187:45PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
SOLD OUT Metropolitan Planning Council presents: Photographer & Englewood activist Tonika Johnson in conversation with Deborah Payne and David Schalliol, moderated by MPC’s Gabriel Tyler
9/21/20188:00PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
Photography/Cinematography: Museum of Contemporary Photography presents photographer & filmmaker Carlos Javier Ortiz in conversation with David Schalliol, moderated by MoCP Curator of Academic Programs and Collections Kristin Taylor
9/21/20182:00PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
9/20/20188:15PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
Metropolitan Planning Council presents: WBEZ’s Senior Editor of Race, Class & Communities Alden Loury and MPC Vice President Marisa Novara in conversation with Deborah Payne
9/19/20186:00PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
SOLD OUT
9/18/20188:30PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
Youth Voices: Activist and musician Tweak Harris and activist and journalist Charles Alexander Preston, moderated by The Area‘s Luis Perez
9/16/20185:00PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
Storytelling workshop with the National Public Housing Museum, including conversation with Deborah Payne and David Schalliol
9/15/20188:00PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
Voices from The Area: Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here, in conversation with Deborah Payne and neighbors; David Schalliol and Brian Ashby also in attendance
9/14/20188:00PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
Filmmakers in Person: Photographer & critic Lee Bey in conversation with David Schalliol, Deborah Payne, and Brian Ashby.
9/14/20183:45PMGene Siskel Film CenterChicago, IL
8/23/20188:30PMBlack Harvest Film FestivalChicago, IL
SOLD OUT Filmmakers in Person: Critic Sergio Mims in conversation with David Schalliol, Deborah Payne, and Brian Ashby 
6/26/20187:00PMCinéma L’ImaginaireDouchy-les-Mines, France
Filmmaker in Person: Centre régional de la photographie Hauts-de-France Executive Director Muriel Enjalran in conversation with David Schalliol
6/23/20187:00PMCinéma l’UniversLille, France
Filmmaker in Person: Q&A with David Schalliol
4/06/20187:20PMFull Frame Film FestivalDurham, NC
Filmmakers in Person: Q&A with David Schalliol, Deborah Payne, and Brian Ashby