Jessie Maple's Groundbreaking 1981 Film Will Added to the National Film Registry

ATLANTA - EntSun -- The Library of Congress has officially added Jessie Maple's pioneering 1981 film Will to the National Film Registry. This prestigious recognition solidifies Will as a landmark in American cinema and celebrates Maple's trailblazing achievements as the first African-American woman to independently direct and produce a feature film.

The National Film Registry selects 25 films each year. Joining Will on the 2024 National Film Registry list are several works by Black filmmakers including, Compensation, Ganja and Hess, Uptown Saturday Night, and Zora Lathan Student Films.

"Will represents the unwavering courage of independent filmmakers who tell the stories of community," said Audrey Maple Snipes. "Its preservation in the National Film Registry ensures that generations will experience my mother's vision and the vital representation of African American lives on screen."

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Will is the story of a Black athlete, Will, navigating sobriety and his mentorship of Little Brother, a neighborhood youth. The film's narrative and Maple's unique lens offer a compassionate view of urban life and redemption, marking a significant departure from mainstream depictions of African Americans in media at the time.

Honoring Jessie Maple's Legacy Jessie Maple (1937-2023) forged her path in the male-dominated film industry by becoming the first Black camerawoman to gain membership in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); she went on to establish a legacy of empowering independent voices including the founding of 20 West: Home of Black Cinema. Maple's archival collection is housed at the Black Film Center & Archive, Indiana University - Bloomington. The inclusion of Will in the National Film Registry is part of a broader movement to preserve and elevate the work of Maple, whose contributions to film and media have often been overlooked. A 4k restoration of Will was unveiled in 2024 as a joint project between the Black Film Center & Archive (BFCA), the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture's Time-Based Media Archives & Conservation staff, and the Center for African American Media Arts. Work on the restoration was completed from 2020-2023, with generous funding provided by the SI-NMAAHC Robert Frederick Smith Center for the Digitization and Curation of African American History. Will 4K is currently in scheduling for nationwide screenings as the celebration of Maples' legacy continues.

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Visit the National Film Registry and access the full list of this year's selections here. Questions on upcoming screenings can be directed to bfca@iu.edu.