Feature Film

Don’t Be Nice

Goshen Theater • Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Film followed by a Q&A session with Producer Nikhil Melnechuk on the theater stage

Directed by Max Powers
1h 35min | Documentary | 2018

The upstart Bowery Slam Poetry Team, made up of five African-American, Afro-Hispanic and queer poets in their 20s, prepares for the national championships. Mentored by a demanding coach who encourages them to push past their personal boundaries and write from a place of vulnerability, pain and honesty, the poets break down, break through and compose their best work ever. Timely and difficult, their spoken word slays—but will these soul-searching pieces about police violence and the whitewashing of Black culture be able to compete against choreographed crowd-pleasers for the title? Will opting to make a statement instead of a show spell their defeat?

An emotional and inspiring film that gives insightful commentary on race, gender, identity and sexual politics in America today, Don’t Be Nice is both an absorbing competition doc and a vital writer’s workshop that proves once and for all that winning hearts and minds is the ultimate prize.

A Bowery Poetry Studios Production

PRODUCERS
Nikhil Melnechuk, Cora Atkinson

STORY PRODUCER 
David Lieberman

AWARDS
Jim Ewing Young Director Award
Port Townsend Film Festival
Winner
Atlanta Docufest
Winner Documentary
Macon Film Festival

RBFF Feature | This is Love

Schedule is subject to change.

In some cases, seating is limited. Arrive early to insure a seat!

2018 River Bend Film Festival Sponsors

2018 River Bend Film Festival Sponsors • Top Tier • Goshen, Indiana
2018 River Bend Film Festival Sponsors • Goshen, Indiana
2018 River Bend Film Festival Sponsors • Goshen, Indiana
2018 River Bend Film Festival Sponsors • Goshen, Indiana

Acruity • Art of Massage • Blank Space • Celtx • Constant Spring • Elephant Bar • Elko Hardwoods • Eyedart Creative Studio • Flowers By Phoebe • Froggy Radio • Gateway Cellar Winery • Greensweep Cleaning Services • Kelly Jae’s Cafe • LightBox • Los Primos • Maple City Market • Mid America Filmmakers • Nimble Wit Productions • Quality Inn • Studio Ace of Spades • Tympanum Press • Weston Fribley • Zehr Construction

This project is made possible by the support of the Indiana Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.