Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project 

This award-winning documentary travels through time and space to reveal the enduring influence of Nikki Giovanni, one of America’s greatest artists and social commentators.

Poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, at 80, continues to defy convention in both life and art. While promoting a new poetry collection, battling breast cancer, and mending her relationship with her son, she resists a traditional documentary approach, famously stating, “I remember what is important and I make up the rest.” Filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson create a vivid portrait infused with her poetry, narrated by Taraji P. Henson, and featuring memorable moments from Giovanni’s life, including her 1971 conversation with James Baldwin. The film won the 2023 Sundance Grand Jury Prize (U.S. Documentary). The screening holds even greater significance in light of her recent passing at the age of 81, underscoring the enduring impact of her words and actions.