Visit and Presentation Will Highlight JAX READS!/NEA Big Read Community Event
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 2, 2017 – JAX READS!/NEA Big Read, the Jacksonville Public Library’s reading initiative that encourages Jacksonville residents to read and discuss The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, will conclude March 11 with a visit by award-winning filmmaker Mira Nair, director of The Namesake movie adapted from the novel. Nair will give a presentation on the themes conveyed in her films and discuss the craft of filmmaking. University of North Florida Professor Parvez Ahmed, Ph.D., will interview Nair and take questions from the audience. The public is invited to the free event.
WHEN: Saturday, March 11, 2017
1 p.m.
WHERE: Main Library – Hicks Auditorium
303 Laura St. – 32202
About Mira Nair
An Indian-American filmmaker based in New York City, Mira Nair passionately explores issues in her films such as the tug of competing worlds felt by millions of immigrants, and ways to bridge the gap between cultures, races and genders. She uses film to challenge stereotypes and generational assumptions. The Namesake follows two generations of a Bengali family from the late 1970s in Calcutta to New York City. Nair’s other best known films include Queen of Katwe (2016), Mississippi Masala, the Golden Lion-winning and Golden Globe-nominated Monsoon Wedding, and Salaam Bombay!, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
About JAX READS!/NEA Big Read
This year’s annual communitywide JAX READS! is part of the NEA Big Read, an honor as Jacksonville Public Library was one of 77 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive a grant to host the event. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
Other participating sponsors and partners include Stein Mart, The Florida Times-Union, WJCT, the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation, the Indo-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mayor’s Asian American Advisory Board, Duval County Public Schools, the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Florida Eye Specialists, Folio Media House, Four Points Sheraton Baymeadows, Leo Communications, Lexington Hotel, Rogers Towers, St. Johns Pediatric Dentistry, Baptist Health, and San Marco Books and More.
The library will host book discussions, movie screenings and activities through March 11 to complement JAX READS!/NEA Big Read. All events are free and open to the public. Check out the novel or the movie from your library and join JAX READS!/NEA Big Read.
Jacksonville Public Library is committed to making its public programs accessible to all persons. If you need special accommodations, please call 630-4655 (TTY 630-1999) at least 72 hours prior to the event.
About the Jacksonville Public Library
The mission of the Jacksonville Public Library is to enrich lives, build community and foster success by bringing people, information and ideas together. Last year, more than 3.4 million visits were made to Jacksonville Public Libraries, items were checked out more than 5.7 million times, and over 13,000 programs and services were offered to Duval County residents at the Main Library and 20 branch locations. For more information about the Jacksonville Public Library, call 630-BOOK (2665) or visit jaxpubliclibrary.org.
